Russia To Allow US Arms shipments to Afghanistan

Planes at Manas Air Base after returning from refueling operations over Afghanistan
(manas.afcent.af.mil)

From AP:

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia will allow the U.S. to ship weapons across its territory to Afghanistan, a top Kremlin aide said Friday in a gesture aimed at bolstering U.S. military operations and improving strained ties between Washington and Moscow.

The deal is expected to be signed during President Barack Obama's visit to Moscow next week, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Sergei Prikhodko said.

Russia has been allowing the U.S. to ship non-lethal supplies across its territory for operations in Afghanistan and Kremlin officials had suggested further cooperation was likely.

Prikhodko told reporters that the expected deal would enable the U.S. to ship lethal cargo and would include shipments by air and land.

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My Comment: This is big news. It makes the U.S. mission in Afghanistan easier to operate, and it also gets the U.S. and NATO away from being dependent on transit routes through Pakistan for their supplies.

The only question that needs to be asked is .... how much is this going to cost us?