Russia alarmed by worsening situation in Afghanistan

Russian ambassador to the United
Nations says attack on the Afghan
parliament is another evidence of
worsening of the situation in the
cou
ntry An attack on the Afghan parliament in Kabul testifies to worsening of the
situation in the country, the deputy to the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vladimir Safronov, told a session of the UN Security Council on Monday.
"The Russian Federation is concerned about a deteriorating situation.
Today’s attack on the Afghan
parliament is another evidence of
that," Safronov said.
"A high terrorist threat and militants’
gaining ground in northern regions of the country, especially in Kunduz
Province of late, give rise to major
concerns for our country and our
neighbours in the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS)," he said,
urging effort to prevent destabilization
of the situation in the region.
"We have repeatedly warned that
militants will try to take advantage of
the withdrawal of foreign military
contingents from Afghanistan to
change the balance of forces in their
favor," he said. This forecast "has
provedfully true" after "a spring armed activity" in the country resumed.
The deputy ambassador drew
attention to a growing threat in
Afghanistan from Islamic State, urging UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to pay major attention to that issue in the next report on the situation in Afghanistan.
Top United Nations envoy to
Afghanistan Nichols Heysom said
earlier that more than 4,200 civilians
have been killed or wounded in
Afghanistan this year. People are killed in the course of armed clashes as well as in terrorist acts.