Old Foes Now Friends in Arms

Afghanistan doesn’t need any more weapons, the nation’s defense minister, Mohammed Qassim Fahim, said at a news conference here Tuesday. But with nearly all its equipment Soviet- or Russian-made, and much of that in disrepair, what it does need are spare parts and technical help.

In response, Russian Defense Minister Sergei B. Ivanov promised to sell the country military spare parts and provide help with logistics and the creation of a national army. He even held out the possibility of offering training planes and transport helicopters in the future.

But Ivanov ruled out sending Russian military advisors, saying there is no need for them given the Afghans’ military experience.

“These commanders have been fighting for 20 years. What other education could they need? They received the most important education long ago. They are mature, experienced commanders. What is there we can teach them?” Ivanov said, jovially suggesting that the Afghans could teach Russians a thing or two about combat tactics.

In a situation rich in irony, Russian leaders have promised to help Afghanistan rebuild after 23 years of war that began with an invasion by the Soviet Union in 1979.

The Kremlin, which for years armed the Northern Alliance, the core force that helped dislodge the ruling Taliban, is eager to maintain its influence in Afghanistan. And soon after the Taliban fled the Afghan capital, Kabul, in mid-November, Russia built a makeshift hospital in the city and sent experts to help repair the Soviet-built Salang Tunnel between Kabul and the north.

Russia’s military aid to the Northern Alliance after the Taliban came to power stemmed from Moscow’s concern that an extremist Islamic movement could spread from Afghanistan to former Soviet republics in Central Asia, which is viewed by Moscow as within its sphere of interest.

Ivanov said Moscow’s main concerns in the region are preventing terrorists from maintaining training camps in Afghanistan and stemming the flow of drugs from the country.

At a 61-nation conference on Afghan aid last month in Tokyo, where participants pledged $4.5 billion to help rebuild the country, Russia did not commit itself to a specific amount but promised technical and engineering expertise and assistance in clearing mines.

On Tuesday, Fahim said Afghanistan still looks to Moscow for help.

“The people of Afghanistan count on the Russian Federation--just as they did during our fight against the Taliban regime--to render us invaluable assistance and to take an active part in rebuilding Afghanistan in the future,” he said.

Later Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir V. Putin added his weight to his nation’s pledge of support in a meeting with Fahim.

“A new stage has begun now,” Putin said. “A stage of economic rebuilding, the restoration of the social and humanitarian sphere, and the building of the political sphere. Russia is ready to make an adequate contribution in all aspects of this cooperation.”

Ivanov emphasized that Russia was responding to an Afghan request for help, not trying to force itself on Afghanistan.

He said it is natural that Afghanistan would rely on Russia for help in maintaining Soviet- and Russian-made arms and rebuilding energy facilities.

The Russian defense minister refused to elaborate on the cost of Moscow’s support but said his government does not want to consume the sparse funds Afghanistan has. It is much cheaper for Afghanistan to buy spare parts than new military equipment, he said.

Ivanov said Russia might offer training planes, transport helicopters and communication systems to Afghanistan in the future.