Former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev has opposed the US’ move to send more troops to Afghanistan by arguing that the “withdrawal should be the goal” and said the crisis needs to be addressed in consultations with key countries including India and Pakistan.
“I think that what’s needed is not additional forces.
This is something we discussed too, years ago, but we decided not to do it. And I think that our experience deserves attention,” said Mr. Gorbachev, who as the President of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) had decided to withdraw forces from Afghanistan.
“We decided to emphasise the domestic developments in Afghanistan, national reconciliation. We gave a chance to return to participate in the country’s affairs the various clients that affected the situation,” Mr. Gorbachev said.
“We addressed also this issue through an international conference, and we were in consultation with Americans, with the Iranians, with Pakistan and with India.
I think that such an issue should be addressed in this way,” he said in an interview to the CNN.
