Russia says it is ready to co-operate with U.S. on Afghanistan
Last Updated: Saturday, January 24, 2009 | 12:11 AM ET Comments14Recommend2
The Associated Press
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Moscow is ready to help stabilize the situation in Afghanistan.
Russia says it is willing to allow the United States and others to cross Russian territory with cargo intended for coalition forces in the war-wracked nation.
Medvedev said that Russia also is prepared to help international efforts to combat drug-trafficking and terrorism in Afghanistan. Canada has about 2,500 troops in Afghanistan.
During his visit to Afghanistan's neighbour, Uzbekistan, Medvedev voiced hope that Barack Obama's administration will do better than its predecessors in stabilizing Afghanistan.
Medvedev's comments appear to reflect the Kremlin's wish to mend ties with Washington, which deteriorated under the administration of George W. Bush.
U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood says he welcomes Medvedev's comments.
"We certainly look forward to working with Russia on Afghanistan," he said Friday. "It's in both of our countries' interest to try to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan and bring about, you know, more economic development and security in the country."
U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan get up to 75 per cent of "non-lethal" supplies such as food, fuel and building materials from shipments that cross Pakistan, where they have been increasingly targeted by Islamic militants.
U.S. Central Command chief Gen. David Petraeus said Tuesday that the U.S. had struck deals with Russia and several Central Asian states close to or bordering Afghanistan during a tour of the region in the past week.
Petraeus gave few details, but NATO and U.S. officials have said recently they were close to securing transit agreements with Russia and the patchwork of Central Asia states to the north of Afghanistan.
"We are ready to work on the most acute issues, [such as] ... deliveries of non-military cargo," Medvedev said. He added that co-operation with the United States must be "full-fledged and equal."
Hopefully this deal works out, supplies can then be rerouted through Russia and then we just need a deal with India to complete the pincer movement on Pakistan. 
