Pentagon Chief: Russia Assists US Operation In Afghanistan

Russia is rendering assistance to the US operation in Afghanistan, Pentagon Chief Donald Rumsfeld said on Wednesday. According to him, Russia provides the USA with intelligence data, and the US planes have been given permission to perform flights over Russia's territory. In addition to that, Rumsfeld added, the Russian side is also cooperating with the USA in some other fields. The US Secretary of Defence recalled that Russia had declared its readiness to participate in search operations in northern Afghanistan if necessary. So far, Rumsfeld added, there has been no such necessity.