Lavrov: NATO Military Infrastructure in Afghanistan, Neighbors ‘Unacceptable’

DID Press: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow considers the deployment of NATO military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighboring countries “absolutely unacceptable,” warning that such a presence could contribute to instability and increased conflict in the region.

Speaking at the eighth Moscow Format consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow on Monday, Lavrov said historical experience had shown that the presence of NATO military infrastructure in the region could lead to greater security threats, destabilization and heightened tensions.

Lavrov also said Russia would continue providing regular humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and that another shipment of aid was expected to arrive in the country within the next one to two months.

The Russian foreign minister described measures by the Taliban authorities to combat drug trafficking as positive, saying they had produced significant results. He also said Moscow was interested in strengthening Afghanistan’s counterterrorism capabilities and supported efforts to develop those capabilities.

Lavrov further said Afghanistan’s economy continued to develop despite what he described as severe Western sanctions, citing increased industrial activity and foreign trade.

The eighth Moscow Format meeting is being held in Moscow with the participation of senior representatives from Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, China, India, Pakistan and Central Asian countries. Belarus and Egypt have been invited as guests.