<h2>Russia, China want no foreign hand in Afghanistan</h2>

BEIJING: Asserting their right to a leading role in Central Asia, a six-nation group led by China and Russia said on Monday it wants Afghanistan free of foreign influence.

A statement by a meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a group set up in part to fight Islamic militancy, welcomed the end of the Taliban government. But it said outside attempts to influence Afghan affairs would lead to a new crisis for the region.

"The situation in the region should be decided by the countries themselves," said Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov of Russia. The other members are Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The statement on Monday didn't single out any foreign government, but some group members view the United States or Pakistan as potential rivals.

China has supported the US-led anti-terror campaign, but is uneasy about the American military presence in the region. Beijing has called for an early end to military action in Afghanistan.

Other members regard Pakistan as a rival for influence after the fall of the Taliban, which it long supported.

Smaller members of the group have mixed sentiments about a US presence, some hoping it will offset domination by their huge neighbours. Uzbekistan has allowed American troops on its territory, while Kyrgyzstan agreed to let Washington use one of its airfields.

The statement on Monday called for a"peaceful, neutral" Afghanistan, and warned against"any kind of administration forced on Afghanistan, or a scheme to influence it."

Such efforts, it said, would lead to a"new crisis for Afghanistan and the surrounding region."

The Shanghai Cooperation Group was formed in 1996 to fight"terrorism, separatism and extremism."

The ministers said Monday they were moving ahead with plans to open a regional counter-terrorism center.

Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan of China said the other members had endorsed Beijing's campaign to crush Muslim separatists and Moscow's fight with Chechen rebels, though neither the joint statement nor the other ministers mentioned that.

China has argued in vain that its struggle is part of the global anti-terror campaign. US officials say the Chinese unrest should be settled politically.

"All members have indicated that terrorism in all forms must be hit hard and... that there should be no double standards in the fight against terrorism," Tang said.

Quelle


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