Moscow-Sana
The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned against withdrawing US forces in Afghanistan to neighboring countries and permanently stationing them, stressing that this matter will have a more negative impact on Russian-American relations.
In an interview with Al-Hayat International magazine, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov indicated that the file of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan was raised at the Geneva summit and said: "We do not accept the transfer of the permanent US military presence to the countries neighboring Afghanistan... We have told the Americans about this directly and frankly... The transfer of US forces to countries neighboring Afghanistan will change a lot in Russia’s relations with the United States, and we warn them against such steps.”
Ryabkov pointed out that Moscow and Washington are in contact about the possible consequences of the withdrawal of US military units from Afghanistan, adding, “The situation is ambiguous. This is with the Americans.
Afghanistan is witnessing confrontations between government forces and Taliban militants who seized large areas in rural areas and launched attacks on large cities. This escalation coincides with the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan. Washington has promised to complete the withdrawal of forces by the 11th of next September.