Russian Deputy Considers Establishment Of Friendly Regime In Afghanistan To Be Important For Russia And West

It is important that a regime that would be friendly towards Russia and the West, and one that would not become an economic burden on Russia, be established in Afghanistan after the Taliban. This opinion was expressed on Thursday by Anatoly Kulikov, Chairman of the sub-committee of the Committee of the State Duma (Lower House of the Russian Parliament) on security. Speaking at the international conference "The Military and Society: a Time of Change", Kulikov noted that by launching its operation in Afghanistan the American leadership had demonstrated to its allies proof of the involvement of Osama bin Laden and the Taliban in the acts of terror. The relevant Russian departments, he said, on their part, have confirmed that bin Laden is connected with the activities of terrorists in Chechnya. That is why, the anti-terror operation ought to be supported from the viewpoint of punishing the terrorists, said Kulikov.