Russians Returning to Kabul
17 November: A high-level Russian delegation is being rushed to the Afghan
capital of Kabul to “look into the military requirements of the legitimate
government of Rabbani”.
A special Russian commando team landed in Bagram airbase Saturday November 17
to secure the high-level Russian team.
The Russian commandos landed shortly after British troops took up positions
at Bagram airbase.
Without waiting for the Russian delegation to land in Kabul, they took up
duty as personal security unit for Rabbani, who declared himself the
legitimate ruler of Afghanistan.
The delegation, announced over Russian State TV ‘RTR’ Saturday November 17,
means that the Russians will enter Kabul ahead of the Islamic Peace Force
planned by the UN for supervising the formation of Afghanistan’s first
post-Taliban ruling body.
DEBKAfile’s sources in Washington and Moscow report that this fresh
development was revealed hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin
returned home from his ranch summit with US President George W. Bush, at
Crawford, Texas. It may well represent one of the two presidents’ key areas
of agreements. Bush may have made the gesture of allowing Russia to re-enter
Kabul in a manner that would wipe out the ignominy the Red Army’s rout in
Afghanistan 12 years ago.
The 17-member official team will be led by Russia’s special envoy Alexander
Oblov and comprise diplomats, high army officers and relief officials. It is
scheduled to meet General Fahim, the Northern Alliance defense minister, who
is reported by DEBKAfile’s sources to have set up a military council to rule
Kabul in the interim, until the returning former president Burhanuddin
Rabbani is installed. Rabbani, ousted by the Taliban five years ago, also
returned to Kabul Saturday.
”The situation on the fronts has radically changed and we need a team on the
spot in Kabul,” said Russian defense minister, Sergei Ivanov, in the
broadcast.
No other government, including the United States has recognized Rabbani as
post-war ruler of Afghanistan. The US position vis a vis Moscow’s stance on
this question is not yet clear.
In the meantime, maneuvers advance for influence in shaping the future regime
amid rivalries among Northern Alliance coalition factions, each bidding for a
stake in the future government and control of the areas of the country
abandoned by Taliban forces.
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