ASTANA, September 12 (Itar-Tass) — Moscow believes that the intentions to preserve foreign bases in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of troops from there in 2014 are contradictory, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

“We cannot but be concerned over the future situation in this country (Afghanistan), especially given the contradictory statements that foreign troops will be withdrawn in 2014, but foreign bases will stay,” said Lavrov. “Clarity is essential here: if the anti-terrorist mission is accomplished (and there are doubts about that so far), then it means that the bases are preserved for some other task unrelated to Afghanistan?”