Afghanistan: Could Russian Troops Return to Kabul?

Russia will assist international military forces operating in Afghanistan, but has no intention of sending its own troops to the war torn state, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin has said.

Borodavkin said the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is playing a vital role in Afghanistan, but said it would be "impossible" for Russia to join the effort despite its vested interest in seeing the mission succeed. However, he left open the possibility that Russia could dispatch military advisers to help train Afghan military units.

"A Russian military presence in Afghanistan is impossible. There is a consensus in Russian society on this issue, taking into account the historical record," Borodavkin said in an interview with Russian news agency Interfax March 25. "As for our possible assistance in the formation of the Afghan Armed Forces, we might consider such requests from the Afghan government."

A Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit on Afghanistan will be held in Moscow on March 27. Both the US and Iran are expected to attend along with representatives from the European Union, NATO and the United Nations.

"The agenda of the conference will focus on searching for more effective ways to jointly counter the terrorist and drug threats," Borodavkin said.