Afghanistan to acquire Mi-35 helicopters and other Russian equipment 41210151

Defence & Security News - (Russia, Afghanistan)
 
Afghanistan to acquire Mi-35 helicopters and other Russian equipment
Russia will continue providing assistance to Afghanistan in different ways, according to an interview of the Director of Asian Affairs of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zamir Kabulov, published at the Russian newspaper Izvestia.
     
Afghanistan to acquire Mi-35 helicopters and other Russian equipment
Mil Mi-35 attack helicopters during a Russian Armed Forces exercise (Source: Rostec)
     

He stressed that the Russian Federation is providing assistance to the Afghan Government. One of the main areas of focus is the military capabilities of the Afghan National Army. Mr. Zamir Kabulov mentioned that the Russian Ministry of Interior recently handed over a large number of small arms ammunition, while the ANA officers have been receiving training at Russian military institutions.

This policy will continue in the future and this month the Afghan Government will eventually sign a contract for the procurement of Mil Mi-35 attack helicopters.

He also pointed that the withdrawal of the foreign troops from Afghanistan left a vacuum gap, which could not be filled in by the Afghan military. The fall of Kunduz was a result of the inefficiency and lack of capabilities from the Afghan side and the departure of ISAF troops. Mr. Zamir Kabulov, and of course Russia, are in favour of providing the necessary means and equipment so that the ANA will be capable of securing the country.