Russian President Putin Criticizes NATO Withdrawal From Afghanistan

President Vladimir Putin meeting with paratroopers in Ulyanovsk (RIA Novosti / Aleksey Nikolskyi)

Putin Criticizes NATO Withdrawal From Afghanistan -- Times of Moscow

ULYANOVSK — NATO forces should stay in Afghanistan until they have finished their job to ensure stability, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday, criticizing the planned withdrawal of most combat troops by 2014.

Putin reiterated Kremlin concerns that the pull-out of the U.S.-led alliance, due to start next year, will leave Central Asia vulnerable to militant violence and drug trafficking.

"It is regrettable that many participants in this operation are thinking about how to pull out of there. They took up this burden and should carry it to the end," Putin said at a meeting with paratroopers in Ulyanovsk.

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More News On Russian President Putin's Views on NATO And Afghanistan

NATO should finish job in Afghanistan, Putin says -- Reuters
NATO should finish job in Afghanistan – Putin -- RT
Putin says Russia needs NATO to succeed in Afghanistan, regrets planned alliance withdrawal -- Washington Post/AP
Putin supports Russia-NATO relations -- Voice of Russia
Putin’s Clever Plan to Keep NATO in Afghanistan -- Marc Champion, Bloomberg