MOSCOW. Feb 8 (Interfax) - The situation in Afghanistan has not been normalizing since the U.S. troops' withdrawal from the country; on the contrary, Al Qaeda (terrorist organization banned in Russia) is building up its potential in the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"After the U.S. Armed Forces fled Afghanistan, the situation in this country, regrettably, is not getting any better, while international terrorist organizations, including Al Qaeda, which is building up its potential, are becoming more and more active, and you all know it perfectly well," Putin said at meeting of the multilateral commission of Security Council secretaries and national security advisors on the Afghan problem.
The situation in Afghanistan directly concerns the security of Russia and its southern borders, he said.
"This has always been important to us, and it is twice as important today to avoid any points of tension appearing on our southern borders," Putin said.