Moscow, Kabul agree to jointly fight against terrorism

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

Afghanistan and Russia on Tuesday agreed collective efforts are required to fight against terrorism and combat drug trafficking in the region.

This was stated in a joint press statement issued after a meeting between Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Russian security council, and Mohammad Haneef Atmar, the Afghan national security adviser in Kabul.

The statement added that both sides had a detailed discussion on the threats the two countries face in the region.

They also discussed economic cooperation to promote peace and prosperity in the region, according to the statement.

Last week, Russia urged Afghan leaders “not to follow the anti-Russian hysteria fanned by some western media''.

This followed a veiled allegations aimed at Moscow by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani for supporting the Taliban.

Earlier this month, Ghani had told a gathering in southeastern Paktia province that the Taliban were allegedly receiving support from a country which had killed 1.5 million Afghans, a clear reference to the former Soviet Union that invaded the country in 1979.

Ghani's visit to Paktia came after a massive Taliban assault on the police headquarters that killed the police chief and at least 50 other people.