Afghanistan welcomes potential Russian assistance in war on terrorism

Abdullah told a press briefing on Sunday that the Afghan government would welcome a potential move by Russia to extend its support to Kabul in order to curb terrorist groups operating across Afghanistan.

The senior official said Russia has provided Afghan security forces with military equipment in the past.

He emphasized that Afghanistan needed international help to stand against terrorism.

“If any country wants to assist Afghanistan in war on terror, Afghanistan welcomes the offer,” Abdullah said, adding that terrorism does not know borders.

Russian Ambassador in Afghanistan Alexander Mantytsky has recently announced his country’s readiness to extend military assistance to Afghanistan in its battle against the foreign-backed Daesh terrorists and Taliban militant group.

The recent brief seizure of the Afghan city of Kunduz by the Taliban served to show the extent to which the Taliban have expanded their reach in Afghanistan as the city was previously Taliban violence-free.

Afghanistan is gripped by insecurity nearly 14 years after the United States and its allies attacked the country as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror.

Russia has been fighting militants since the mid-1990s in its North Caucasus region, where the republics of Chechen, Dagestan, and Ingushetia have been the scene of sporadic attacks and militant clashes.

Authorities in Russia say hundreds of militants from North Caucasus region have left for Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan to join Daesh and other terrorist groups in recent years.

Moscow began an aerial military campaign against Daesh in Syria on September 30 upon a request from the Damascus government.

Iraq has also signaled its willingness to draw in Russian help in its own fight against Daesh.