Russia Warns of New Wave of Terror, Seeks India's Cooperation


Bangalore: As Nato forces prepare to exit Afghanistan in 2014, Russia on Sunday warned of a "new wave" of terrorism in the region, including against India and sought cooperation with New Delhi to stop this "invasion".

Sharing Russia's serious concerns on the evolving situation in Afghanistan after the departure of Nato troops in 2014, visiting deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin said once the foreign troops leave the country, thousands of terrorists and fundamentalists will take shelter there.

"Thousands of terrorists and fundamentalists will seek refuge in Afghanistan as well as the region around the country. It may change the situation drastically around the region and for countries like Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Central Asia. This is a big problem for Russia and India," he said.

"So we have to control the situation with some political and security monitoring and see what we can do together to stop this invasion of new terrorist wave against us and our citizens," he said.

He said that Nato was not claiming victory in Afghanistan but just success.

"There could be a new terrorist wave against us. The end of the ISAF operations in Afghanistan should be the start of a new cooperation against terrorism and extremism," Rogozin said while accusing the West of not doing anything to help the Afghan people during their stay in the country.

US President Barack Obama has already confirmed that most of the 90,000 American troops in Afghanistan will withdraw by 2014 when Afghan security personnel will take charge of the nation's defence.

Source: PTI