Putin pledges aid, but no military support, to NATO in Afghanistan

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir PutinMoscow  - Russia stands prepared to assist NATO in its operations in Afghanistan, so long as that assistance does not include military support on the ground, according to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Quoted by the Interfax news agency in advance of a trip to Tokyo, Putin said Russia has already made its territory available to NATO for transit of non-military supplies.

But Russian involvement in Afghanistan is not an option, he said, given the history of the Soviet Union's disastrous invasion in 1979.

Putin also criticized the effectiveness of NATO airstrikes.

"It's a tragedy when 100 innocent people die during a bombardment," he said.

On a separate note, he said Russia will attempt to link the question of the US missile defence shield in Europe with upcoming talks on nuclear missile reduction. (dpa)