MOSCOW. Nov 19 (Interfax-AVN) - An advance group of Russian law-enforcers that left for Afghanistan on November 16 started establishment of working contacts with the country's legitimate government in Kabul on Monday, a source in the Russian Defense Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"Russian specialists will provide technical assistance to the Northern Alliance in formation of Afghanistan's coalition government, they will take part in organising observation over implementation by the Taliban of the conditions of the ultimatum put up by the anti-Taliban coalition, and take control over restoration of the compound in the Russian embassy in Kabul," the source said.
Military specialists included in the delegation are instructed to assess the current situation in Afghanistan, including in the interests of arms and military equipment to the troops of the Northern Alliance, the source stressed. They will be assisted in implementation of that task by Lieutenant General Vladimir Popov, head of the Russian Defense Ministry's operations group in Tajikistan, who is currently staying in Kabul.
The group of Russian law-enforcers comprises officials of the Defense, Interior and Emergencies Ministries.