The head of the Afghan department of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Victor Korgun, commenting on the decision taken by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party on the deployment of Soviet forces into Afghanistan has described the move as a political mistake. “I would have described the decision as a crime against the people of both Afghanistan and the Soviet Union,” the prominent Russian expert in Afghan studies said in an interview with the information portal of the Moscow State Institute for International Relations.

Like many other Russian experts Victor Korgun concludes that a key task of the deployment of Soviet Forces into Afghanistan was fight for the attractive geographical situation of Afghanistan rather than the fight against radical forces. According to the Professor, the Afghanistan was attracted by its geopolitical location and international communication routes have passed through the country throughout its history.
 
Last week, speaking at a press centre of a Russian news agency, the president of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems, General Leonid Ivashov described Afghanistan as “sunny web of Eurasia”. According to the General, by establishing control over Afghanistan one can always influence the countries in the region.