BRUSSELS. Sept 26 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has ruled out the participation of Russian servicemen in military actions in Afghanistan.
"I absolutely rule out the use of Russian servicemen in any military action on the territory of Afghanistan," the minister told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday.
"We are not planning to take part in the anti-terrorist operation on the territory of Afghanistan in any form, either weapons or people," Ivanov said.
"Russia today is actually conducting anti-terrorist action on two fronts: in Chechnya directly and in Afghanistan by supporting the Northern Alliance," the minister said.
Ivanov said he does not currently see the need for beefing up the Russian 201st motorized division stationed in Tajikistan.
"Considering the way that events are developing now and the way the Northern Alliance is acting, I do not see any real chance that the Taliban will deliver a crushing blow against the forces of the Northern Alliance and reach the CIS borders," Ivanov said.