Moscow: Russia on Tuesday ruled out sending its
troops to Afghanistan but said it was ready to help train the
military and police personnel of the country to develop its
internal security capability.
"We are interested in a stable situation in Afghanistan
and liquidation of existing threats by the international
force," Secretary of Russia's Security Council Nikolai
Patrushev said.
"Russia has no plans to send its troops into that
country. But we are ready to participate in the training of
military and police personnel," he added.
Speaking at a press conference here about the recently
adopted national military doctrine, Patrushev said Russia was
also ready to work on economic projects in Afghanistan,
provided all its activities were financed by the international
organisations.
He also complained that the NATO-led international force
in Afghanistan has not carried out 'adequate' combat against
drug trafficking from the South Asian nation, which from 2001
has grown by 40 times.
After recent meeting of US-Russian drug control agencies,
Moscow has expressed its desire to send drug police to
Afghanistan.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, February 09, 2010, 19:21