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Ex-Nato head says Putin wanted to join alliance early on in his rule
Vladimir Putin wanted Russia to join NATO but did not want his country to have to go through the usual application process and stand in line “with a lot of countries that don’t matter”, the former NATO chief, George Robertson said this week.
Robertson, a former Labour defence secretary who led Nato between 1999 and 2004, said Putin made it clear at their first meeting that he wanted Russia to be part of western Europe, the UK’s Guardian reported.
“They wanted to be part of that secure, stable, prosperous west that Russia was out of at the time,” he said.
Robertson recalled an early meeting with Putin, who became Russian president in 2000. “Putin said: ‘When are you going to invite us to join NATO?’ And [Robertson] said: ‘Well, we don’t invite people to join NATO, they apply to join NATO.’ And he said: ‘Well, we’re not standing in line with a lot of countries that don’t matter’.”
Robertson’s comments underscore how Putin’s worldview has evolved during his 21 years of unbroken rule of Russia, the Guardian reported.
Robertson also recalled how he became the first and only NATO secretary general to invoke NATO’s collective defence clause, known as article five, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
After the 9/11 attacks, many NATO allies joined the US in invading Afghanistan, with NATO taking over the mission command in 2003.
Robertson was however critical of the US’s chaotic withdrawal two months ago, but contended that the 20-year long mission of western military forces made a difference, despite the return of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
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Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense to recruit more forces
The Ministry of National Defense of the Islamic Emirate has announced that the registration process for forces approved by the Security and Vetting Commission to join the ranks of the Islamic National Army has officially begun.
According to the ministry, recruitment centers in the capital and across the provinces are ready to receive applicants.
The ministry stated that registration is conducted upon presentation of a national identity card (tazkira) and an approval form issued by the Security and Vetting Commission. The order to launch the recruitment process was issued by Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Minister of National Defense.
Military experts say the move is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the security forces and improving preparedness to ensure national security. They believe that increasing the number of trained personnel can both address internal threats and enhance the operational capability of the national army.
Some observers also emphasize that, alongside the Islamic Emirate’s forces, opportunities should be created for other eligible young people to join the security forces.
Previously, a spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate said that in 2025 the number of trained personnel in the Islamic National Army reached 181,000, and more than 100,000 police officers have also received training in various fields.
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Afghan Foreign Ministry holds diplomacy training program with Qatar’s cooperation
The Diplomacy Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan recently organized a five-day training program titled “Diplomacy Connection Networks”, in collaboration with Qatar.
According to a ministry statement issued Sunday, the course was led by experienced Qatari diplomat Omar Ghanem, who shared both theoretical insights and practical experiences from his diplomatic missions in multiple countries.
The training covered core concepts of contemporary diplomacy, the structure of diplomatic networks, and the significance of digital diplomacy for participants.
At the closing ceremony, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, the Qatari Ambassador in Kabul, and the Director of the Diplomacy Institute highlighted the importance of professional training for diplomats, the value of sharing experiences, and the need to continue such specialized and collaborative programs to strengthen Afghanistan’s foreign policy.
The program concluded with the distribution of certificates to all participants.
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Germany admits 32 more Afghans stranded in Pakistan
A group of 32 Afghan migrants has been flown from Pakistan to Berlin, a spokesperson for the German Ministry of the Interior confirmed.
Although Germany suspended its Afghan admission program in May 2025, the process has resumed due to ongoing legal measures within the country.
About 2,000 Afghans have been approved for relocation but remain stuck in Pakistan, some for years.
For years, many of these individuals had been promised entry into Germany, but German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt had questioned some of these commitments and ordered a renewed review of which of the original roughly 2,000 people should still be admitted.
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