Afghanistan debacle shows NATO is an “absolute failure” –Russia

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The unceremonious exit of its forces from Afghanistan has demonstrated that NATO, the western security alliance, is an “absolute failure,” the Russian foreign ministry has said.</p>
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Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson of the Russian foreign ministry  said on her Telegram channel that the “ the United States has proved to be absolutely impotent as a steering force (in Afghanistan)”.</p>
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She added: “ And videos of the self-destruction of the ‘invincible machine’, shown across the globe, demonstrate it more convincingly than any military calculations that NATO is an absolute failure as a military-political bloc claiming a leading role in securing world order."</p>
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Zakharova’s remarks follow Moscow’s  argument that the diplomacy to resolve the Afghanistan situation should be led by countries of the region rather than the Atlantic Alliance—a US led formation that emerged at the end of World War 2.  Besides, analysts say known for their long archival memories, the Russians view the US exit as a satisfactory  equaliser to the Soviet Union’s embarrassing exit from Kabul on February 15, 1989, caused by Washington backed “Mujahideen” insurgents.</p>
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The Russian diplomat  noted that despite its failure in Afghanistan,  NATO is planning exercises along Russia’s periphery,  especially in the Baltic and Eastern European countries. It is also building up its presence in the Arctic. "Judging by the catastrophe in Afghanistan, NATO needs drills in the mountains and steppes rather than on pasture lands and meadows. But they seem to be too absorbed in virtual confrontation with Russia," she stressed.</p>
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"The alliance’s decline is obvious. Vehicles from Iraq were at least brought to the Baltic countries and this junk was donated to the vassals. In Afghanistan, they were so drained that they opted to leave their cars and helicopters to those who they were used against," she added.</p>
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