Potential withdrawal of international peacekeeping forces from Afghanistan would pose a threat to Russia, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Saturday.
"The withdrawal of the peacekeeping troops, including the NATO troops, from there [Afghanistan] may pose a military threat to us. The situation can become worse than it is now," Ivanov said at the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
"Russia is interested in peaceful and stable Afghanistan," Ivanov said adding that Russia is seriously concerned about the increase in extremist activities in northern Afghanistan.
Russia will continue to help the peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan, Ivanov said.
MUNICH, February 5 (RIA Novosti)
