Context
Russia asked the United States to explain its plans for setting up military bases in Afghanistan on Monday. Russian Foreign Minsiter Sergei Lavrov said his country was concerned about the creation of US military bases after 2014; “It is important for us to understand how the (U.S.) troops withdrawal and the creation of the military bases correspond, if it was announced that the U.S. military objectives will be reached by 2014,” Lavrov said. He said Moscow was looking to take into account the situation in Afghanistan, to assess its affects on the region. Levrov said Russia would discuss the issues amicably with both Kabul and Washington.
The Afghan traditional grand assembly last week agreed to partake in a strategic partnership with the US, which allows the Americans to set up U.S. bases in the country until 2024.
