The head of the Defense Ministry noted that the Russian Federation is particularly concerned about the situation in this country in connection with the decision to withdraw NATO military contingents from there
MOSCOW, June 23. /TASS/. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu suggested discussing issues related to the situation in Afghanistan, from where NATO forces are being withdrawn, with colleagues from the CSTO and border states in the near future.
"I think that we should discuss these issues in the near future," Shoigu said at a meeting with Kazakh Defense Minister Nurlan Yermekbayev.
Speaking about the problems of regional security, Shoigu noted that the Russian Federation is particularly concerned about the situation in neighboring Afghanistan in connection with the decision to withdraw NATO military contingents from there.
"We don't really believe that there will be peace and tranquility there. 20 years of the presence of the NATO contingent on this territory have not led to the fact that it was possible to achieve stability in Afghanistan," Shoigu said. "Therefore, we are holding consultations with our colleagues from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, with you, our Kyrgyz friends," the minister said, suggesting that in the near future we will discuss issues related to the situation in Afghanistan with colleagues from the CSTO and border states.
He thanked his colleague for finding an opportunity to visit Moscow in the context of the pandemic and take part in the Moscow Conference on International Security.
"The Republic of Kazakhstan is the main strategic ally and the most important partner of Russia. The interaction of our defense departments is maintained at a high level and is carried out both on a bilateral basis and in a multilateral format within the framework of the CIS, the CSTO and the SCO, " Shoigu said, suggesting that we move on to discussing topical issues of cooperation.
