Russia Joins the War in Afghanistan

[Jedburgh]

Asia Times, 25 Jun 08: Russia Joins the War in Afghanistan

Moscow is staging an extraordinary comeback on the Afghan chessboard after a gap of two decades following the Soviet Union's nine-year adventure that ended in the withdrawal of its last troops from Afghanistan 1989. In a curious reversal of history, this is possible only with the acquiescence of the United States. Moscow is taking advantage of the deterioration of the war in Afghanistan and the implications for regional security could be far-reaching.

A joint statement issued in Moscow over the weekend following the meeting of the United States-Russia Working Group on Counterterrorism (CTWG) revealed that the two sides had reached "agreement in principle over the supply of Russian weaponry to the Afghanistan National Army" in its fight against the Taliban insurgency.....

[Fuchs]

They already did so shortly after 9/11 ... I remember a parade of Northern Alliances warriors with T-55 and Russian-style uniforms (distinctive pattern).

[Stevely]

This is interesting - I thought the intent was to arm ANA with Western (US) weapons?

[Anthony Hoh]

This is interesting - I thought the intent was to arm ANA with Western (US) weapons?

Stevely,
Your right their is a big push with the small arms (50 cal and below), and although we are gifting Uparmored HUMMV's, the question of what a ANA mech Battalion or Air Assault element looks like, still seems open from what I've seen. Although the article doesnt mention it, Russia could fix a lot of BMP's /BRDM's. That could really help the ANA. (if you believe you need Mech platforms in a COIN fight, I really dont want to get into that one!) Plus the phasing in of NATO/ western weapons is still gonna take a while.

[Granite_State]

Stevely,
Your right their is a big push with the small arms (50 cal and below), and although we are gifting Uparmored HUMMV's, the question of what a ANA mech Battalion or Air Assault element looks like, still seems open from what I've seen. Although the article doesnt mention it, Russia could fix a lot of BMP's /BRDM's. That could really help the ANA. (if you believe you need Mech platforms in a COIN fight, I really dont want to get into that one!) Plus the phasing in of NATO/ western weapons is still gonna take a while.

Without getting into the M4/M16 discussion, doesn't it make more sense to arm the ANA with AK-47s anyway, due to the minimal maintenance and work the weapon requires? I always thought that was the plan anyway.

[Anthony Hoh]

Without getting into the M4/M16 discussion, doesn't it make more sense to arm the ANA with AK-47s anyway, due to the minimal maintenance and work the weapon requires? I always thought that was the plan anyway.

G_S We are doing alot to improve the capacity and capabilities of the ANA, fielding a new primary weapon system IMO is overloading the cart. Add the state of Afghanistan's finances, plus (this is a wild guess but) there is probably half a billion AK-47 rounds in this country. Now we have not only given the weapon system, but the cleaning kits, ammunition, the time used to train them, also that is a pretty insightful comment about weapon maintenance. I am not witnessing a military culture that prides itself on a clean weapon, not to mention the terrain and conditions dont help much. I read some interesting things about the fielding of the M16 in Vietnam, although Fairchild and Armalite had billed the model 16 as low/no maintenance, it only took about three years without a plan for weapons maintenance before a lot of rifles really went #### up. (even after they had went back to the dupont IMR powder) I would also submit that the Russians did more to sell the DRAA on all things great and Kalshnikov. I have not really seen us/U.S. do any kind of information campaign on what the M16 family of rifles does better than the AK, (light weight, tighter MOA, etc) at the individual Soldier level.

[Ron Humphrey]

Asia Times, 25 Jun 08: Russia Joins the War in Afghanistan

Just think it might not be a good idea for any russian troops to show up to train on them. I can just imagine the way AQI and the Talibanned would spin that one.

[Stan]

Nearly 2 decades later mother Russia is returning (at the request of the USA and NATO ? ......who'd have thought ). Are WE really asking Russia to help US/NATO fight the very same folks we armed and trained to fight the Russians ?

Got to wonder why Russia has now promised to not only resume (Russian) defense supplies to Afghanistan and now nearly 5 years later, finally grant NATO an overland corridor. I'd love to see the (ahem) transit fees (Pakistan will love the financial losses and attention)

The Estonians think Russia is more than accommodating primarily due to (Russian) concerns over NATO leaving an "unfinished" Afghanistan on her back door with drugs and thugs, and, in the pathetic hopes NATO will shelve alliance membership plans for the Ukraine and Georgia.