Russia wants answers on NATO post-2014 Afghan mission
Source: Reuters
(Reuters) - Russia wants to know more about the scale and scope of NATO's post-2014 mission in Afghanistan before deciding whether to keep cooperating with the Western alliance, an envoy for President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
Moscow, NATO's Cold War-era foe and still a frequent critic, fears instability in Afghanistan after the pullout of most foreign troops by the end of 2014 may spill over into ex-Soviet Central Asia and threaten Russia's own southern borders.
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But Zamir Kabulov, Putin's special envoy for Afghanistan, told Reuters that Russia wanted "full clarity" on the combat capabilities of the post-2014 mission and reiterated a threat to withdraw cooperation unless the alliance receives approval from the U.N. Security Council, where Moscow holds veto power.
"At the end of the day NATO is a military bloc. If a military-political group appears in the neighbourhood of Russian territory, without our consent and with tasks unknown to us, this is problematic. A mandate is indispensable," Kabulov said.
Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/10/25/uk-russia-afghanistan-nato-idUKBRE89O18820121025
marble falls
(57,106 posts)leave in 2014. The victory celebrations will be brief at the airport.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)which is NATO not leaving completely.
marble falls
(57,106 posts)no immunity, no gauntness of rescue should they choose to stay. I think I get it. I don't trust any side in any interaction in Afghanistan.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)NATO is only there because of the US. Its already become clear that NATO is unlikely to be mugged off again by US pressure on the subject of Turkey / Syria.
marble falls
(57,106 posts)intentions are at the moment.
Look we disagree. Lets revisit the issue in 12 months?