The suspension of the withdrawal of the American troops from Afghanistan about which U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Thursday points to the full failure of the U.S. military operation and its allies in that country, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Oct. 16.

The suspension of the withdrawal of the American troops from Afghanistan about which U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Thursday points to the full failure of the U.S. military operation and its allies in that country, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Oct. 16.

"As you know, in the previous year he pledged to put out all his servicemen from the country by the end of 2016, except for a little contingent intended for guarding the embassy in Kabul," the foreign political agency said in a commentary.

It said that according to the new plan announced on October 15 the numerical strength of American servicemen will remain the same - 9,800 in the whole next year and their number will be cut to 5,500 only by January 2017.

"This forced step is another graphical evidence of the full blunder of the 14-year Washington military campaign and its allies in Afghanistan," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The statement said that for this period of time the United States "failed to eradicate terrorism and the drug threat, prepare the combat-capable national Armed Forces, ensure security and stability in Afghanistan."

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said that Russia was ready to help the Afghan people build "a peaceful, stable and democratic state free of terrorists of all stripes."

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.