RF interested in implementing large-scale projects in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD, December 3 (Itar-Tass) -- The Russian Federation is
interested in implementing a number of large-scale projects in
Afghanistan, Russian ambassador to Pakistan Andrei Budnik said at a
round-table meeting devoted to prospects for Pakistani-Russian relations
in Islamabad on Friday.
"Russia is well aware of the fact that the process of normalization of
the situation and national reconciliation in Afghanistan is impossible
without Pakistan's participation," the Russian diplomat stressed. "Russia
and Pakistan are undoubtedly should jointly fight with international
terrorism and illegal drug trafficking. Besides, we should jointly promote
peace in Afghanistan."
Russia is interested in participating in a number large-scale projects
in the territory of Afghanistan, as Andrei Budnik stressed. Thus Russian
companies show great interest in reconstructing and further modernizing
the Slang Pass in Afghanistan. This is a strategically important tunnel
with a length of 2.7 kilometres built the Hindu Kush mountains by Soviet
specialists in the years of the Soviet Union's presence in Afghanistan. It
has always been the main transport network connecting the northern and
central parts of this country.
Besides, as the ambassador said, Russia in interested in
reconstructing and modernizing a number of enterprises of the oil and gas sector in Afghanistan's north, enterprises engaged in producing nitric fertilizers and the heating electric power station in Mazari-Sharif, the plant engaged in producing building materials in Kabul, as well as the irrigation complex in Nangarhar.
"We know that Pakistan wishes very much to participate in the process of restoration of Afghanistan. In this connection, we suppose that the implementation of our joint projects in this country will create an additional basis of bilateral regional interaction and will promote deepening of relations between the Russian Federation and Pakistan," the Russian ambassador added.