MOSCOW, Russia: The Russian President Vladimir Putin has assured his country’s and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) countries’ full support to Afghanistan in its efforts to normalize security situation after 2014 when the combat mission of US-led NATO force ends in the war-torn country.
“We understand that the withdrawal of the international military contingent will not make the situation easier. But in case of necessity we will be ready to lend our friends in Afghanistan a shoulder to lean on in order to keep the situation in this country stable and with perspectives of development,” Putin said while speaking at a meeting with the members of the CSTO.
A representative from Afghanistan which holds the observer status of the CSTO along with Serbia also attended the meeting.
“We wish the people of Afghanistan the best of luck in normalizing the situation in their country,” Putin said.
The Russian president said that the whole World is currently following the development of the situation in Afghanistan including the nations that fall into the CSTO zone of responsibility.
The CSTO is an intergovernmental military alliance with Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as its members while Afghanistan and Serbia have observer status.