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| Putin Criticizes U.S. Role in Afghanistan, Saying Security Hasn’t Improved | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Friday sharply criticized the American-led war effort in Afghanistan, telling a gathering of regional leaders that a decade of Western military intervention had failed to improve security in the country. | MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Friday sharply criticized the American-led war effort in Afghanistan, telling a gathering of regional leaders that a decade of Western military intervention had failed to improve security in the country. |
| “The deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan, where a 10-year presence of the international military contingent has not brought any qualitative improvement of the situation, raises serious concern,” Mr. Putin said in a speech to heads of state, including President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan. | “The deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan, where a 10-year presence of the international military contingent has not brought any qualitative improvement of the situation, raises serious concern,” Mr. Putin said in a speech to heads of state, including President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan. |
| “The situation is aggravated by the growing activity of the so-called Islamic State, a terrorist organization striving to extend its influence,” Mr. Putin said, according to a Kremlin transcript, at a gathering in Ufa, Russia, for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. | “The situation is aggravated by the growing activity of the so-called Islamic State, a terrorist organization striving to extend its influence,” Mr. Putin said, according to a Kremlin transcript, at a gathering in Ufa, Russia, for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. |
| Russia had shown support for the American-led military effort in Afghanistan, including by allowing supply shipments along a route of more than 3,200 miles through Russia and the former Soviet Union, called the Northern Distribution Network. | Russia had shown support for the American-led military effort in Afghanistan, including by allowing supply shipments along a route of more than 3,200 miles through Russia and the former Soviet Union, called the Northern Distribution Network. |
| In May, however, Russia formally rescinded its permission for NATO to use the route, and Mr. Putin’s remarks on Friday signaled a new, tougher assessment of the legacy that United States forces are leaving behind. | In May, however, Russia formally rescinded its permission for NATO to use the route, and Mr. Putin’s remarks on Friday signaled a new, tougher assessment of the legacy that United States forces are leaving behind. |
| While the American-led combat operation in Afghanistan formally ended on Dec. 31, about 10,000 United States troops remain in the country, and plans for a further withdrawal have been delayed because of the worsening security situation. | |
| With Russia under serious international pressure, including economic sanctions, over its intervention in Ukraine, Mr. Putin has sought to use improved ties with Asia to demonstrate that his country retains a prominent place on the world stage. | With Russia under serious international pressure, including economic sanctions, over its intervention in Ukraine, Mr. Putin has sought to use improved ties with Asia to demonstrate that his country retains a prominent place on the world stage. |
| Relations between Russia and the United States are at perhaps their lowest point since the end of the Cold War, and the Kremlin regularly issues criticism of American foreign policy, especially over the role of the United States in the Middle East, including in Iraq, Libya and Syria. | Relations between Russia and the United States are at perhaps their lowest point since the end of the Cold War, and the Kremlin regularly issues criticism of American foreign policy, especially over the role of the United States in the Middle East, including in Iraq, Libya and Syria. |
| Afghanistan has observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, whose full members are Russia, China and the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India, Iran and Pakistan are expected to become full members within the next year or so. | Afghanistan has observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, whose full members are Russia, China and the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India, Iran and Pakistan are expected to become full members within the next year or so. |
| In remarks at the meeting, Mr. Ghani said his government was committed to engaging in peace talks with the Taliban, though efforts to improve that dialogue have had mixed success in recent weeks. | In remarks at the meeting, Mr. Ghani said his government was committed to engaging in peace talks with the Taliban, though efforts to improve that dialogue have had mixed success in recent weeks. |