Kabul: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, at the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, once again warned of NATO attempts to return to Afghanistan.
Lavrov said that NATO, after its “chaotic” withdrawal from Afghanistan, is now seeking a return to the country.
According to Lavrov, NATO is trying to find allies for Moscow in Central Asia and is pressuring them to choose between Russia and the United States.
“After NATO’s disgraceful withdrawal from Afghanistan four years ago, the alliance is once again trying to find new points of entry into the country. They are actively pressuring our friends, allies, and strategic partners in Central Asia and are trying to impose their well-known concept of ‘either with us or with Russia,’” Lavrov said.
This is not the first time that Russia has expressed concern about NATO’s attempts to return to Afghanistan and the region.
Previously, the Russian foreign minister and the head of its foreign intelligence service had warned about NATO’s return to Afghanistan.
Janat Faheem Chakari, a political analyst, said: “The United States has no interest in a military presence in Afghanistan. However, these Russian statements indicate that Russia wants to form an anti-Western bloc in the region and turn Afghanistan into its ally.”
Russia’s warning about NATO’s return to Afghanistan comes as the US Defense Secretary, in a meeting in Singapore yesterday, emphasized that Washington will no longer engage in aimless wars, such as the war in Afghanistan.