Vladimir Putin: Russia Seeks To Create Afghan State Friendly Towards Its Neighbours

Russia's policy aims at creating a state in Afghanistan that would be friendly disposed towards its neighbours, including Russia, said President Putin of Russia on Monday. He was speaking at a tripartite meeting held between the Presidents of Russia, Tajikistan and the Islamic State of Afghanistan. Vladimir Putin said that a situation ought to be created in Afghanistan in which the Afghan people would have the possibility of defining their destiny independently and starting to build a peaceful life. President Putin said that Russia has always been consistently supporting and continues to support Afghanistan's lawful government. "We know of the sufferings that the Afghan people had to experience after its territory was left at the disposal of the terrorist organization and Afghanistan was actually occupied by the Wahhabis," he noted. Putin described the meeting in Dushanbe as extremely meaningful and useful. He said that the sides had examined the complex of problems concerning the situation in Afghanistan. The Afghan colleagues had informed the participants in the meeting in detail of the situation in the Islamic State of Afghanistan and supported Russia's intention to continue extensively backing up the Islamic State of Afghanistan in the political, military and technical spheres, said President Putin.