US troop pullout from Afghanistan not to increase threats for Central Asia, says diplomat

Russia is strengthening the potential of its military base in Tajikistan, Maria Zakharova said MOSCOW, June 17. /TASS/. Russia does not believe that the pullout of the US military contingent from Afghanistan may increase threats for Central Asian countries, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday. “We donࢀ™t believe that the pullout of US troops from Afghanistan is fraught with a growth in threats for Central Asian states. Rather, the presence of the US and NATO contingents is an irritant for the armed opposition and an obstacle for normalizing the situation in the country,” the Russian diplomat said….