Kabul is willing to bolster and develop its relations with Moscow, just like it did during the Soviet times, Afghan Ambassador to Russia Abdul Qayyum Kochai said on Monday.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 20th August, 2018) Kabul is willing to bolster and develop its relations with Moscow, just like it did during the Soviet times, Afghan Ambassador to Russia Abdul Qayyum Kochai said on Monday.
"We currently have a normal relationship with Russia. We are trying to strengthen and develop our relations [like we did during the time of] the Soviet Union," Kochai said during a press conference held by the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency in Moscow.
The diplomat noted that both sides had made a number of mistakes in the past.
"Afghanistan has never done anything wrong to the Soviet Union, and does nothing bad to Russia," Kochai pointed out.
Afghanistan is interested in business communities of the two countries building a cooperative relationship, the diplomat said.
"Representatives of the Russian Commerce Chamber make visits to Afghanistan, just like the representatives of the Afghan side do. We are doing everything in our power to encourage Russian business people to invest in our economy, the same way our partners from India, Pakistan and Japan do," Kochai said.
The ambassador added that the Russian participation was not as big, but Afghanistan was interested in investment from Russia.
"Afghanistan, like Russia, has a market economy. One has to bid. If there is a project, the one who offers the most money and the best terms, will get it," Kochai said.
Afghanistans ties with the Soviet Union have been close with the two countries enjoying cooperation in various areas, from energy to security. Moreover, the Soviet Union had given significant financial and military support to the Afghan government.
At present, Moscow is supporting the Afghan peace process and helping the country achieve stability.
