Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov is warning that Afghanistan will face new challenges because of the country's "degrading political and military situation."
He spoke on April 26 at the ministerial meeting of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Morgulov said that with Afghanistan planning to hold a presidential election in 2014 and with most NATO troops withdrawing by the end of that year, instability could spread into to Central Asia and pose a "threat to Russia and its allies."
He added that Afghanistan's national reconciliation process has stalled.
The declaration of the Istanbul Process on Regional Security and Cooperation for a Secure and Stable Afghanistan was adopted in November 2011.
It was signed by Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and the United Arab Emirates.
He spoke on April 26 at the ministerial meeting of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Morgulov said that with Afghanistan planning to hold a presidential election in 2014 and with most NATO troops withdrawing by the end of that year, instability could spread into to Central Asia and pose a "threat to Russia and its allies."
He added that Afghanistan's national reconciliation process has stalled.
The declaration of the Istanbul Process on Regional Security and Cooperation for a Secure and Stable Afghanistan was adopted in November 2011.
It was signed by Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and the United Arab Emirates.
