Afghan govt capable of restoring stability: Russia

KABUL (Pajhwok): Russia believes the interim government in Kabul has the prowess to stabilise Afghanistan in the absence of external interference.

Addressing a security meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Bishkek, the Russian Federal Security Service director said the caretaker government was capable of bringing order to Afghanistan.

TASS news agency quoted Alexander Bortnikov as alleging terrorist networks in the reion were being aided by certain powers.

Such attempts posed a serious threat to CIS security, the Russian official noted, commenting: “Undoubtedly, we cannot but be concerned about what is happening.”

The Afghan authorities were making efforts to combat terrorist outfits and boost border security to check the infiltration of militants from regional conflict zones, the FSB director acknowledged.

“If external players do not interfere, the Taliban, I believe, will be able to restore order in the country,” remarked the official, who blamed the Anglo-Saxons for meddling in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.

He hailed efforts to find a common ground with the incumbent Afghan rulers in battling the scourge of global terrorism as a "positive trend.".

PAN Monitor/mud