By Anadolu Agency
Zamir Kabulov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy to Afghanistan and director of the Foreign Ministry's Second Asian Department, said in an interview that the number of U.S military bases in Afghanistan and the United States' continued presence was a matter of concern to Russia.
Speaking to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency he said: “In Turkey, the U.S has only one military base but in Afghanistan they have the right to use nine big military bases plus almost 10 more.” He asked "Why?"
In response to his own question, he said this was a matter of concern for Russia adding that if Russia was to do the same in Mexico, “it would be disturbing for America.”
“Why are they doing that after all this 15-year-old anti-terror rhetoric in Afghanistan? They stupidly try to say that "it is for training."
“Come on! You are not talking to stupid or foolish people. We know the reasons [for the ongoing U.S. military presence in Afghanistan]. Russia will never tolerate this,” he said.
He inferred that after being kicked out of Iran in 1979, the U.S needed a central Asian base, hence Afghanistan being an available option.
He said by having bases in Afghanistan, the U.S was close to Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan among others.
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