From: Miroslav Antic <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Russia warns U.S. of over-reaching in Afghanistan [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK] Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- INTERVIEW-Russia warns U.S. of over-reaching in Afghanistan By Jack Redden ISLAMABAD, Oct 10 (Reuters) - The United States should be wary of getting caught in the Afghan "quicksand" and should not seek excessive permanent influence in the region, the Russian ambassador to Pakistan said on Wednesday. "It is our very good wishes to them that they not go too deep into Afghanistan because it is a very particular country and it is quicksand," Eduard Shevchenko said in an interview with Reuters. He readily admitted the Soviet Union had made a mistake in its 1979 invasion of Afghanistan and subsequent decade-long effort to occupy it. His advice to Washington: "Please don't go into Afghanistan: It's easy to go in but difficult to get out." Shevchenko said Russia solidly backed the current U.S. campaign against the Taliban regime ruling most of Afghanistan because the hardline movement, advocating an Islamic state modelled on the seventh century society of the Prophet Mohammad, was a threat to Russia and Central Asian states. But he also said Washington should not seek permanently to expand its influence in the Central Asia region, most of which was part of the former Soviet Union and is still closely linked with Moscow. "The United States must understand their presence should not be overwhelming in areas far from the United States. They should not use this situation to be overrepresented in this part of the world," Shevchenko said. RUSSIAN SPHERE OF INFLUENCE The United States has won the cooperation of states in Central Asia to use their airspace. Uzbekistan has also allowed U.S. troops to be stationed, although maintaining that they will be engaged only in humanitarian work. "The Americans have good relations in Central Asian states but they should understand it is a Russian sphere of influence," he said. "Our presence there is known and well recognised." However, Shevchenko emphasised Russia was no longer waging a "Great Game"-style competition over Afghanistan, describing its position as defensive to prevent the spread of the Taliban rather than an offensive to spread Russian influence. Shevchenko said Russia sought a broad-based, democratic government in Afghanistan and recognised that the anti-Taliban forces of the Northern Alliance, which it is arming, could not rule all of the country. But he said they had to be recognised in any post-Taliban division of power. "It is a reality now. The Northern Alliance will move and occupy other territory and some warlords will change to their side. Their weight will increase," said the ambassador. Pakistan's military ruler General Pervez Musharraf has publicly objected to any increase in the influence of the Northern Alliance, which it says is backed by Russia, Iran and India. Shevchenko said Pakistan was now seeking Pashtun figures who it felt could replace the Taliban, its previous choice for Afghan rulers, in a future government. Although noting their backing of the Taliban had strained Pakistani-Russian relations, the ambassador said Pakistan had a valid interest in ensuring there was not a hostile government in Afghanistan. "We hope our relations with Pakistan will drastically improve after this moment," Shevchenko said. "Our problems were purely over Afghanistan." _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
