Free Republic

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev have discussed the situation in Afghanistan by telephone, the Kremlin’s press-service said on Sunday. "The situation in Afghanistan was discussed in detail. It was agreed the Russian and Uzbek agencies and ministries concerned would step up cooperation," the statement runs. The two presidents will keep in touch further on, the press-service added. After the pullout of the bulk of the Western military contingent from Afghanistan the movement Taliban (outlawed in Russia) launched a massive offensive on all fronts towards Kabul. According to the television broadcaster Al Arabiya, Afghanistan’s former Interior...

... Moving from visions to concrete defense projects has always been difficult because of the nations' diverging philosophies: The French are more likely to opt for intervention, while the Germans are very reluctant on the military stage. That should improve, however, as Germany and France have pledged assistance — including military assistance — "in the event of an armed attack" on one of the two countries.