MOSCOW. Dec 11 (Interfax-AVN) - A Russian general said on Tuesday that Russian military units should not take part in the peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan even under the UN flag.
Russian servicemen will be considered enemies in Afghanistan, Major General Alexander Popov, former deputy commander of the Airborne Troops in charge of peacekeeping forces, told Interfax-Military News Agency. Afghans, especially former mujahedeen, still suffer from the wounds of war that was waged in that country by Soviet troops from 1980 to 1989, he said.
If the Russian military have to take part in the peacekeeping operation on the Afghan territory, their international status and mandate should be thought out well, Popov went on. Special attention must be paid to choosing the area of their operation.
"There is a great difference between staying in Afghanistan's northern provinces that are populated mostly by Tajiks and Uzbeks and serve as home for the Afghan intellectuals who have escaped from riots of fanatics, and the accomplishment of peacekeeping missions in the east and south-east of the country where numerous armed groups will continue fighting each other for a long time. They may unite against Russians at a certain stage," Popov said.
In addition to the U.S. and British units, the UN-sponsored peacekeeping operation that begins on December 22 should include military contingents of the countries that are located as far as possible from the conflict but that have gained experience in the peacekeeping activity, Popov noted. According to him, this idea was proven efficient in the Balkans.
"There may be Canadians, Finns, Czechs or Poles who have demonstrated high standards of peacekeeping many times," Popov concluded.
Popov took part in operations of the Soviet contingent in Afghanistan from 1986 to 1988. He was commander of the 350th paratrooper regiment of the 103rd airborne division.