On Monday Georgian Minister of Defense Irakli Alasania and his Afghan counterpart Bismillah Khan Mohammadi signed a joint memorandum calling for enhancement of mutual cooperation. According to the document, Georgia is expected to share its experience in conducting military reform and take part in the modernization of the Afghan military forces. "We have established the basis necessary for successful cooperation in the sphere of defense. Our cooperation will now become more intensive and profound," the Georgian minister said.
Georgia has been taking part in the Nato operation in Afghanistan since 2009. In order to strengthen its ties with the North Atlantic Alliance the Georgian cabinet sent one of the biggest military contingents to the country - 1500 servicemen. 29 Georgian soldiers have perished in Afghanistan. Georgia is still going to leave a contingent of 250 servicemen in the country even after 2014.
In May militants of the Taliban launched a major offensive on the Nato forces in the country. The current situation in Afghanistan is very tense. International human rights association Amnesty International stresses that the atmosphere in the country is favourable to violence and that the US authorities often refuse to investigate military crimes. Several thousands of civilians have been killed and the US justice system has failed to punish the servicemen responsible, the body claims.
According to the head of the Asian Studies Centre of the Russian Institute for Strategic Research, Boris Volkhonsky, the main task now is to prevent a war of all against all in Afghanistan.
"There are a few alternative scenarios and they all very dangerous. The last presidential elections were held two months ago, but the candidates still cannot agree on who won. I would not say that all involved parties (the US, Iran, Pakistan, China and Russia) should unite their efforts in order to secure the future of Afghanistan. I believe the future of the country depends on itself. I think some kind of compromise solution is necessary. I believe foreign powers should not put pressure on Afghanistan in order to pursue their own interests. Otherwise the most violent and well-organized force will come to power," he said.
