No curbs on supplies to US troops in Afghanistan: Russia

KABUL will not be hindered by a new treaty on the Caspian Sea, says a Russian diplomat.

The Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea was signed at the Fifth Caspian Summit in Kazakhstan on August 12 by presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan.

Russian Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador-at-Large Igor Bratchikov was quoted as saying on Tuesday: "The convention bans a foreign military presence in the Caspian Sea area and I think the existing restrictions are clear."

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have been taking steps to ensure that no third countries have troops in Caspian Sea, the ambassador told TASS news agency, suggesting supplies to Afghanistan-based US troops would not be affected.

Given its differences with Pakistan, the US has been working to develop an alternative route passing through the Caspian Sea through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

PAN Monitor/mud