Lavrov Accuses U.S. of Manipulating Afghan War for Political Gain

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in an interview that the United States exploited the war in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks to further its political agenda.

U.S. Utilization of the Afghan War for Political Goals

In his discussion with RBC news, Lavrov mentioned that following the September 11 attacks, the U.S. took advantage of global solidarity and a United Nations resolution that authorized military action and the formation of an international coalition to advance its political objectives and expand its influence.

When asked about Russia’s early covert assistance to the U.S. at the onset of the war, Lavrov noted that the Russia-NATO Council had approved a comprehensive plan concerning Afghanistan. He revealed that Russia provided its helicopters to the U.S.-led coalition and facilitated intelligence coordination between the two parties.

Tensions in Washington-Moscow Relations

Lavrov also addressed the deterioration of relations between Washington and Moscow, asserting that the U.S. utilized the international resolution in a manner that primarily served its political goals rather than simply focusing on the fight against terrorism.

Alexei Shevtsov, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council, recently stated that Western nations have been exaggerating security threats from Afghanistan as a means to establish military infrastructure in Central Asia.

This Russian official emphasized that ongoing security concerns regarding Afghanistan are tools that the West employs to justify an increased military and security presence in the region.