Russia Pledges to Rebuild Afghan Army, Economic Aid

Tue Feb 12, 7:01 AM ET

By Jon Boyle

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia pledged Tuesday to help Afghanistan create a new national army, but said it had no plans to send military advisers back to Kabul for the first time since the defeat of Soviet forces there in the 1980s.

Visiting Afghan Defense Minister Mohammad Fahim told a news conference that after 20 years of constant conflict his country needed to rebuild its economy and infrastructure, rather than spend scarce cash on new weapons supplies.

Russia for years armed the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, which Fahim commanded when it captured Kabul in November.

"Today the attention of the international community is focused on rebuilding Afghanistan," he said through a translator.

"At the moment there are enough arms in the country and we do not need to make new arms purchases. The cooperation and help on which we are counting is in the field of repairing military equipment and putting military units into some sort of order."

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said almost all of Afghanistan's industrial capacity and military equipment was of Soviet or Russian origin, which made Moscow a natural partner for the interim administration of Hamid Karzai.

Moscow, whose forces were humbled by mujaheeden forces during a 10-year failed intervention in Afghanistan, would not force its help on the country, Ivanov said.

"As for military specialists (being sent back to Afghanistan), the question does not arise, and I do not believe that it is necessary, in principle," Ivanov said.

The Afghans are experienced fighters who could probably teach the Russian military a thing or two on tactics, he said.

MOSCOW CALM ON U.S. PRESENCE

Ivanov added that Moscow could offer expertise in energy, construction, mine-clearing, and advice on re-organizing the new Afghan national army, which is to be formed from recruits from all parts of the country and all ethnic groups.

Aid could also include spare parts, trainer jets for the tiny Afghan airforce, military communications systems and some transport helicopters and other transport aircraft.

The Russian minister declined to put a price tag on Moscow's assistance or say how the cash-strapped interim Afghan government intended to pay for the services provided.

Ivanov also brushed off suggestions that Russia should be worried about the continued presence of U.S. troops in Central Asia, traditionally a Russian sphere of influence. The U.S. troops came to support the campaign to oust the Taliban, but their presence has grown since the militia was toppled.

"Russia assumes that American bases are located in Central Asia on a temporary basis and only until the end of the anti-terrorist operation (in Afghanistan)," he said.

"I would not raise any unwarranted concern as yet regarding the deployment of American bases in this region," he said.

He warned against "euphoria" over the Taliban's defeat, saying al Qaeda fighters had merged into the general population but could strike at any moment.