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Afghanistan’s plight fails to improve after chaotic US pullout, says Putin

The Russian leader pointed out that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan was deteriorating

MOSCOW, February 8. /TASS/. Afghanistan’s predicament is not getting better after the chaotic exodus of US troops, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

"Unfortunately, the situation in Afghanistan is not getting any better following the pullout of US forces from the country. International terrorist organizations are ramping up their activities, including Al-Qaeda (outlawed in Russia - TASS), which is strengthening its capabilities," the Russian leader stated at a meeting on Afghanistan that involved security officials from a number of countries.

Putin pointed out that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan was deteriorating. According to Russia's information, about four mln people in the country are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. "Drug trafficking is rising. Unfortunately, poppy crops are expanding. As far as I know, 80% of opiates on the global market originate from Afghanistan," the Russian president specified.

Putin emphasized that Russia is concerned about the attempts to exploit the situation in Afghanistan, where "non-regional countries build and expand infrastructure facilities, which they are going to create under the guise of fighting international terrorism." The head of state stressed, however, that these countries "are not doing anything that would be required for a genuine fight against global terrorism."

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