Kabul ready to purchase arms and equipment from Moscow

Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Russia Said Tayeb Jawad said Kabul is ready to purchase weapons from Moscow.

In an interview with Russia’sTASS news agency, Jawad said: “We are hoping that Russia will consider repairing the existing Russian equipment, especially helicopters.”

He also said security forces cadets – particularly those from the Ministry of Interior “are getting training here,” in Russia.

Tass reported that Jawad also said he hoped that Russia would provide an opportunity for Afghanistan to train its pilots and mechanical engineers.

In addition, Jawad told TASS that Afghanistan is ready to consider the possible purchase or production of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V.

“If they tell us that they will give it to us, we will find a way, either purchasing it or whatever way is possible,” he said.

Jawad said it has been five months since Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov’s statement on a possible handover of a batch of Sputnik V vaccine to Afghanistan, but that there has been no progress.

“We asked the government [of Russia], but we did not see any movement on this,” he told TASS.

“We are worried about a second or third wave like in India and other places, we know that the Sputnik vaccine is very effective, so if they provide it to us, we will take it,” he said.