ANKARA. Feb 22 (Interfax) - The U.S. contingent's pullout from Afghanistan will not change the situation in the country much, according to Russian Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov.
"The United States fears that a rapid withdrawal might create a vacuum, a threat. However, 14,000 U.S. soldiers stationed in Afghanistan are taking no part in the hostilities. It's their Air Force that is mostly engaged. If these 14,000 soldiers come home, there will be no drastic change to the situation," Kabulov told the news agency Anadolu on Friday before he met with Zalmay Khalilzad, the Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation at the U.S. Department of State, in Ankara.
Khalilzad "is making titanic efforts to agree on a dignified pullout from this protracted war," he said.
"But this is easier said than done," Kabulov said.
"We have a very good example in the Soviet troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan," he said.
"The Najibullah government lasted for three more years after their withdrawal because the Soviet Union created a stable regime, an army, and security services. The government would have lasted longer if they had continued to receive at least some economic assistance," Kabulov said.
Moscow supports dialogue between the United States and the Taliban (banned in Russia) because it is vital for a settlement in Afghanistan, he said.
The United States and the Taliban will hold their next round of talks in Doha on February 25.