MOSCOW, September 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will continue its assistance to Afghanistan regardless of the outcome of the September 18 parliamentary election, a member of Russia's upper house of parliament said Friday.
Mikhail Margelov, head of the foreign relations committee in the Federation Council, said the elections would legitimize democratic processes in Afghanistan, but would not bring "absolute stability."
It is unlikely that terrorist groups will stop operating in the country anytime soon, and its highland areas will remain a threat to regional security, Margelov said. This is why "the need for Russian involvement in Afghan internal processes will remain" in the years to come.
Margelov said Russia's objectives included hunting down remnants of the Taliban, preventing drug trafficking, and restoring stability to the country and the surrounding region.
