Talks underway for the delivery of Mi-17s to Afghanistan

Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Alexander Mantytskiy said negotiations are underway for the delivery of Mi-17 helicopters to Afghanistan.

He said Moscow has agreed to deliver helicopters to the Afghan army following the recent meeting between President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and the Russian President Vladimir Putin, Khaama Press reported.

According to Mantytskiy, the recent delivery of Mi-25 gunships by India to the Afghan army concluded with the agreement of Russia, insisting that the equipment can only be transferred once the country of origin agrees with it.

Mantytskiy further added that the gunship helicopters are being used to suppress the insurgency led by the Taliban group and ISIS loyalists in the country.

He also added that Russia completed the delivery of 10,000 Ak-47 rifles to Afghanistan in a bid to support the Afghan national security forces, besides 49 army cadets were sent to Moscow for training in February.

The Russian Ambassador also hoped that an agreement is concluded between Moscow and Kabul in a bid to further help strengthen the Afghan armed forces.

Source : MENA