Putin: Deteriorating Security Situation in Afghanistan Arouses Concern

The Russian president expressed concern over the "degrading" security situation in Afghanistan.

DUSHANBE (Sputnik) — Russia is worried about the escalating security situation in Afghanistan and the lack of results from NATO's extensive presence there, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.

"The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has been in the country long enough and has conducted somewhat positive work. However, in the end these efforts have not brought about a radically qualitative improvement of the final situation," Putin told reporters.

Speaking at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit, Putin expressed concern over the "degrading" security situation in the country and the effects of the withdrawal of combat troops from Afghanistan in December 2014.

"The danger of terrorist [and] extremist groups penetrating into Afghanistan from neighboring states has grown," the Russian president stressed.

The Taliban has regained its foothold in Afghanistan after the United States scaled down its combat operations in the country as part of its war on terror.