Mikhail Gorbachev: Victory in Afghanistan is ‘Impossible’

Mr Gorbachev, who pulled Russian troops out of Afghanistan in 1989 after a 10-year war, said the US had no alternative but to withdraw troops.

“Victory is impossible in Afghanistan. [Barack] Obama is right to pull the troops out. No matter how difficult it will be,” he told the BBC.

Mr Gorbachev added that as the Soviets prepared to withdraw from Afghanistan, the US was training militants, “the same ones who today are terrorising Afghanistan and more and more of Pakistan”.

He said that because of this, withdrawal would be more difficult.

“But what’s the alternative – another Vietnam? Sending in half-a-million troops? That wouldn’t work.”

His comments came amid news that Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, will attend a Nato summit next month, to discuss plans for Russian forces to return to Afghanistan.

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