Russia ready to supply armaments, military hardware to Afghan forces: Putin

AVA- Speaking during a press conference, Putin expressed his country’s concerns regarding the growing insurgency activities by the terror groups in the northern parts of Afghanistan, particularly in the areas close to the former Soviet Union borders.
 
“We see the growing threat in Afghanistan from international terrorists. We see that radical international formations are occupying more and more areas in north Afghanistan at the border with former republics of the Soviet Union,” he was quoted as saying by TASS News.
 
Putin further added “This relates to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. No doubt, this causes our big concern, especially considering the presence of the Russian 201st military base in Tajikistan and the airbase in Kyrgyzstan, Putin said.
 
Insisting on the need for international support to the Afghan government, Putin said “As in the previous years, we are ready to provide this support, including in the training of national law-enforcement personnel and the armed forces, supplying necessary armament systems and military hardware,” he added.
 
He warned that without economic support, Afghanistan won’t be able to solve all its problems, including the problem of drug trafficking.
 
“Unfortunately, the largest amount of drugs is produced in Afghanistan and a part of them is trafficked into the Russian market and this cannot but concern us,” he added.
 
According to President Putin “We are ready to work together with the Afghan government, with the United States and other governments concerned to overcome these difficulties.”
 
“we will be able to make our efforts more effective only by achieving joint work,” he concluded.