The West has Made Even More Mistakes in Afghanistan Than us, says Russian Envoy to Kabul
Andrey Avetisyan, a veteran Kabul diplomat, said talk of a handover to the Afghans was currently unrealistic because the coalition had failed to build the nation’s forces or economy.
The rampant corruption riddling the administration was the West’s fault for ploughing huge sums into badly-coordinated, opaque aid projects he said.
Moscow’s envoy spoke as his country again seeks to assert influence by reviving up to 150 Soviet-era infrastructure and business ventures.
Russia intends to reprieve factories, irrigation schemes and road projects.
An estimated 1 million Afghans were killed and millions fled abroad during the Soviet Union’s decade-long occupation.
The Red Army lost some 15,000 troops fighting the Western-backed Mujahideen resistance.
Mr Avetisyan, who began his career in Kabul in the 1980s and speaks Dari and Pashtu, said the West had not learned from Soviet mistakes.
“They are repeating all of them and they are making new ones,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.
Barack Obama has promised a gradual military withdrawal from July 2011, but Mr Avetisyan said Nato had “wasted” nine years not building an Afghan army to replace them.
He said: “Only now have people started to realise ‘Oh, we must have someone to secure the country when we leave’.
“But it is not possible to do in several months, or years. If serious training of the Afghan army is started now, it will take in my opinion at least five years.” “If the international community had started this several years ago, then now it would be realistic to talk about transition timetables and withdrawal.” He said when the Soviets left in 1989, their ally Mohammad Najibullah remained in power for three years because he inherited a strong army and economy.
“For the last eight years, there have been no big projects, not infrastructure projects,” he went on.
“A school here, a hospital there. When it is built people start asking ‘Well where are the teachers and the doctors?’ because no one thought about it before.” The Afghan government was crippled by a shortage of able, trained civil servants. The new army was being trained “almost on the battlefield”.
He said Western diplomats “listen politely” when Russia offered advice.
Russia is worried that an unstable Afghanistan could become a launch pad for Islamist militant attacks and wants to stem the heroin which kills 30,000 Russians annually.
Despite the death toll in the occupation, Mr Avetisyan said Kabul and Moscow remained “traditional partners”.
“Russia has played a low profile role in the past eight or nine years and now it is becoming more active in Afghanistan,” he said.
“Other people may go, but we will be here like neighbours.” Dmitry Medvedev, Russian prime minister, met Hamid Karzai in Sochi last month as Afghanistan’s neighbours jockey for influence before an eventual Nato withdrawal.
Russians are hoping to rebuild the strategic Salang road tunnel across the Hindu Khush with £55 million of American money.
A fertilizer plant in Mazar-i-Sharif, an irrigation network for olive trees in Nangahar and a factory for prefabricated apartment blocks in Kabul are on a priority list of Soviet projects to be restarted.
Imagine the scenario, if Russians start feeding Afghans with Light Weight Arms, exatcly what the Americans did to The Mujahideen during the 80s, the exist of Nato & America from Afghanistan, which is almost inevitable now, will become even more insulting…..
In fact, it is a classic opportunity for the Russians to settle the old scores & salvage their lost pride, just a mere thought or you may say it my wishful thinking!!!
Admin I noticed deeply whatever American, Indian, Israeli or rest of other Participants tried to paint American Role at Afghanistan here-at this esteemed FORUM as if such Role is very much appreciated at Afghanistan moreover this role is very remarkable over-there.
Being a Pakistani & according to reliable sources Americans were welcome at Northern Afghanistan tentatively 15 to 17% of Local Population although accepted but with some serious reservations Americans Presence mostly War Lords or Opium Cultivators Cum Atheists or their associates rest of Afghans they deadly hatred with Americans as a result every 2nd/3rd day Americans are Killed brutally over there. Moreover as we know Obama needs to start earning his keep. He already got overpaid with the —”Nobel Prize” for doing nothing so now he has to show before his nation & at other Western Countries that he can lead the world supposed only superpower who is right now on the road namely Af-Pak Mind it this Road directly Leads to Zero-Power.
You all Americans must know & realize who spread all around too much unbearable Philosophy Cum Analysis at different forums who have forgotten this fact of the only matter that Obama & his Administration — believe me they all are just declared certified Nut Case as you Americans, Brits, Americans & Jews quiet Underestimated to Pakistan & Afghanistan you all are just Smart, Sensible & Far Sighted only in American & Jewish Hollywood Based Movies.
— But as far as Pakistani ISI or Mullah Omar & Co. are concerned — they are really Extra-Ordinary Smart & Far Sighted they just remain Silent for the last almost a decade but as & when realized the position of HIGH TIME has come, as right now Americans & Brits have been Trapped into their own Net Pakistani Army Tabled the Pre-Conditions at Brussels – Belgium at Nato HQ i.e. — “To FINISH the PARTLY AMERICAN/Brits along-with Entirely Indian ROLE at Afghanistan” rather I must declare to the same as Gen. Pervaiz Kiyani put the Prime Condition which was comprised only on One Point — “that Until & Unless Indians are not GET LOST from Afghanistan We Pakistani Army is not ready to PLAY own Due Role to Provide Americans for FACE SAVING”— mind you all Americans this is an UTMOST REQUIRED EXIT as your own Economy has been touching Bailed Out System in current Financial Year just because of this War against Terror so in constant manner War Action of Americans with Afghanistan & Pakistan — this War against Terror is breaking America’s Back Bone anyway in short through out this imposed War Against Terror worked with Americans Pakistani Army Posed as if they were suppose to Duffer & Dumb & only Americans, Brits, Israelis & Americans the combination of Smart & Far Sighted People as usually Jews Plus Americans propagandize in their respective Electronic Media i.e. controlled by the Jews, the gist of such propaganda is Americans & the Westerners are Smart & Far Sighted only & the Pakistani Army is just a follower of these bunch of Stupid in other words Just Smart-Alec people rather Pakistani Army, Military Intelligence/MI or ISI posed Blind as per followed Youtube Link — specially regarding to these Pakistani ISI officials who pretended always with innocence as if they only watch the Horrible Consequences of War Against Terror with the glasses of Made in America only but in actual terms they are Trend Setters as they have been trend setting now-a-days upon the humble request of Red White & Blue Countries to Negotiate even with their own Deadly Hatred persons namely by the way — now who have been turned status wise in-to honorable Mullah Umar & Haqani Network – pls. keep in mind how Ms. Hilleary Clinton paid respect to Mullah Umar just a week ago & the only American’s Puppet how Hamid Karzai named & called to such Mullah Omar & Haqani Network on behalf of the West now he has been declaring to them Muslim Brothers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSG807d3P-U&NR=1
The actual Blind Man who was in Toilet = Taliban — as Taliban have been fighting with Americans & NATO Forces Just Blindly & His Companion another person who posed himself as Blind i.e. Pakistani Intelligence Agencies (ISI & MI) — The thief Girl = America who came here-at South Asia just for plundered the Caspian Oil of Central Asian Countries Oil & Gas Resources worth Amount 49.00 Trillion US$ but caught red handed by Taliban, Pakistani ISI & MI of Pakistan & China.
Lara-ee Bhaut Hochukee Aab Siyasi Hul Hona Chaiyee-
Taliban -o- Alqaida Ko Aab Apna Baap Banana-Chaiyee-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/world/2010/01/100125_taliban_talks_aw.shtml