Fund Afghanistan’s reconstruction, Lavrov asks west

KABUL (Pajhwok): Russia has voiced concern at non-regional players’ attempts to step up their activities in and around Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed Russia’s apprehension in a written address to the Moscow-format consultations on Afghanistan in Kazan.

TASS news agency quoted him as saying: “We are concerned about the attempts of extra-regional players to become more active in the Afghan direction.

In a written message, the minister said joint efforts by regional states and NATO were possible only if the alliance admitted the failure of its 20-year military presence in Afghanistan.

Lavrov emphasised on the West to bear the burden of Afghanistan’s post-conflict reconstruction. The freezing of Afghan assets was further complicating the already difficult living conditions for Afghans, he concluded.

PAN Monitor/mud