MOSCOW. Nov 16 (Interfax-AVN) - A former Russian military leader and current lawmaker said on Friday it was possible that Russia was providing military specialists to the Northern Alliance.
"It is illogical to provide arms without specialists who can teach to operate it," Colonel General Eduard Vorobyov told Interfax-Military News Agency.
Vorobyov, who is a deputy chairman of the defense committee in the State Duma lower house of parliament, said the statements of Russian executive officials on provision of only arms and military equipment to the Northern Alliance were unlikely to correspond to reality.
Uzbek and Tajik servicemen who cannot be told from Afghans are likely to act as advisors at the first stage, Vorobyoy said. However Russia must be ready for the second stage too, the lawmaker said.
Vorovbyov said he was convinced that the military operation of the anti-terrorist coalition should be carried through. It is impossible to leave southern Afghan areas under the Taliban's control for they will use the territory for preservation and restoration of their forces, he stressed.