Russia may send troops to Afghanistan to protect Post-Soviet states: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

Moscow: – Taliban, forging ahead, following the US military withdrawal, has taken control of more than two-thirds of the Tajikistan border. Russia expressed strong concerns over the tension created on the Tajik border because of the Taliban attacks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned, ‘Russia will use bases in Tajikistan for the security of the countries from erstwhile Soviet Russia. If need be, Russia will also deploy its military in Afghanistan for this purpose.’ At the same time, the Russian Foreign Minister accused that the United States withdrew from Afghanistan only because of the failure of its campaign.

Since the last week, the Taliban terrorists have intensified their attacks in the northern part of Afghanistan. Videos of a minimum of 1,500 Afghan soldiers escaping into Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, fearing Taliban attacks, have been published. The Taliban has succeeded in gaining control over the northern Afghan border because of this escape of the Afghan soldiers. Russia has expressed annoyance over this Taliban action, saying, ‘Russia can go to any extent to stop the dangerous activities going on near the borders of its Soviet allies. For this, Russia may use the military bases in Tajikistan.’ Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov indicated airstrikes in Afghanistan. While answering a question posed to him whether Russia will send its military again to Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister indicated a military action saying that the answer is clear.

At the same time, Lavrov informed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with the heads of state of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Lavrov said that if the security of the Soviet allies from central Asia is threatened, the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, the military organisation of Russia and its Soviet allies, built on the lines of NATO, will be ready to take the necessary action.

Meanwhile, within hours of the Russian warning, the Taliban delegation visited Russia. The Taliban representatives presented the Taliban stand on Afghanistan. Taliban claimed to have gained control over 85% of the Afghan territory. But the Taliban assured Russia that the Afghan territory would not be used for anti-Russia activities.