Moscow denies NATO access to Afghanistan


Global Research, January 24, 2009
Russia Today - 2009-01-23


Russia has yet to give NATO or the U.S permission to deliver military supplies to Afghanistan through its territory. That’s according to Russia’s envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Central Command Chief General Petraeus said Moscow had agreed to open a supply corridor through Russia.

In April 2008, Russia made deals with the Alliance on railway transit of non-military supplies to Afghanistan. It also made bilateral deals with France and Germany allowing air transit to Afghanistan.

Russian expert Lieutenant-General Leonid Sazhin says the U.S. needs a Russian ground transit route if it wants to reliably supply its troops in Afghanistan. Otherwise, the US may be forced to withdraw from the troubled region.

The U.S. and NATO are looking for alternative routes to transport supplies to Afghanistan after an increase in Taliban attacks from neighbouring Pakistan.

Washington has pledged to almost double its contingent in Afghanistan this year.

NATO's big failure?

By now, The U.S. operation in Afghanistan has been on for more than seven years, beginning in 2001 as a direct response to the 9/11 attacks.

Its purpose was simple: to capture Osama Bin Laden, destroy Al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban regime, which according to US Bush Doctrine, was harbouring terrorists.

The US forces swooped in - and NATO needed in on the action.

Still, analysts say that the situation for the coalition forces in the country is gardually deteriorating.

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