Varennikov: The Afghan authorities are interested in cooperation with Russia in military and technical area

Afghan Defence Ministry is keen on cooperation with Russia in military and technical area. This was stated by General Valentin Varennikov, the president of the International League for the defence of human dignity and security in an interview with the Afghanistan.Ru information portal.

General Varennikov has recently returned from a visit to Afghanistan where he held talks with Defence Minister General Abdul Rakhim Vardak and Chief of General Staff of the Afghan army Bismilla Khan. “The Afghan Defence Minister told me that he was ready to visit Moscow even last year to hold a dialogue on the issue”, said Valentin Varennikov.

A working visit to Moscow of the Afghan Defence Minister was planned last year but was postponed for technical reasons.

Valentin Varennikov said the two sides had discussed revival of national air force at his meeting with the Afghan Defence Minister. He described as an important aspect for the army the start of Afghan air force’s revival. Afghanistan and Russia have more than once said they plan to speed up the growth in bilateral economic and trade relations, but experts insist that the development in this area is unsatisfactory. Valentin Varennikov says a political factor is blamed for the situation. He said: “NATO countries are now in Afghanistan, while Russia is not a member of the alliance”.

General Varennikov believes that the Afghan authorities and member countries of the coalition should give priority to solve social and economic issues. He described as abnormal the level of unemployment in the country. At the same time he pointed to favourable changes, especially in road construction.

Commenting on the work of former and current Afghan leaders the Russian General described President Hamid Karzai as a competent politician. “But he (Karzai) depends heavily on the West, noted Valentin Varennikov. - And I understand him”.

During the stay in Afghanistan Valentin Varennikov visited the mausoleum of the national hero Ahmad Shah Mashood in the Pangjshir Gorge. He also met with the speaker of Afghan parliament Yunus Kanuni and several other politicians.

General Valentin Ivanovich Varennikov was the head of operative management group of the Soviet Defence Ministry in Afghanistan between 1984 and 1989.