Russian Defence Minister has telephone conversation with Defence Minister of Afghanistan

Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov had a telephone conversation with his counterpart from Afghanistan Mohammad Fahim discussing military and military-technical cooperation of mutual interest, reported Russian Defence Ministry sources on Friday.

According to the sources, Sergei Ivanov had also congratulated his counterpart on the re-appointment to the post of defence minister in Afghanistan's new government following the Loya Jirga.

Mohammad Fahim visited Russia in the capacity of Defence Minister of the provisional government of Afghanistan last February, when he discussed with the Defence Minister and leadership of the Russian Defence Ministry the anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan, cooperation between the defence ministers of the two countries, including concerning the development of Afghan armed forces, as well as plans to create a mine-clearing centre in Kabul.