Moscow, Kabul Look for Options of Mi-35 Helicopter Deliveries to Afghanistan

Moscow and Kabul are in talks over delivering Russian Mi-35 helicopters to the Asian country.

Russia and Afghanistan are in discussions over various formats of delivering Russian Mi-35 Hind attack helicopters to Kabul, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Director of the Second Asian Department, Zamir Kabulov, said Monday.“You need money to purchase. The Afghan government does not have money. Various options will be discussed. They would like it as free-of-charge as possible, while our position is to do so on a commercial basis,” Kabulov told RIA Novosti.

Following Russian assistance to Afghanistan of around 10,000 Kalashnikov rifles and over 2 million pieces of ammunition this year, Kabulov suggested the US-led NATO mission could help the Afghan government finance the attack helicopter deliveries.

In an interview with Sputnik last week, Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar said while on a visit to Moscow he planned to discuss Russian arms and the Mi-35 deliveries with Russian officials.