Dmitri Litvinovich: No Russian servicemen in Afghanistan

The Russian Defence Ministry has repeatedly denied Taliban allegations that the Russian military consults Northern Alliance commanders in the planning and carrying out of military operations.

Russia’s stance on the subject has been voiced by President Putin: Russian servicemen will on no account participate in military operations conducted in Afghanistan, and Russia’s involvement is only limited by passing intelligence data to the anti-terrorist coalition. At the same time, Russia is ready to take part in search and rescue operations in Afghanistan, if necessary.

An official at Russia’s Defence Ministry says that an interministerial coordination group has been set up where power ministries, in particular the Internal Ministry and the Emergency Situations Ministry, are represented. Also, a round-a-clock operations staff has been created at the defence Ministry.

At the same time, Russia confirms that high-ranking Russian generals have been sent to the region to coordinate operations conducted jointly with partners in the anti-terrorist coalition (first of all, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) on site. Russian military equipment is also to be sent to Afghanistan soon, and it is sure to be accompanied by Russian experts. In the meantime, Russian advisors have worked in Afghanistan long before the September 11th events, and Taliban leaders are well aware of it.

Dmitri Litvinovich PRAVDA.Ru Read the original in Russian: http://www.pravda.ru/main/2001/11/09/33590.html