Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called on NATO to stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014, the date when the Western alliance's combat forces are due to leave the country, DPA reported.
"You have committed yourselves, and you should stay to the end," Putin said, during a trip to the Russian city of Volga, where Russia is allowing NATO forces to use as a transport hub, for the first time.
It was a shame participating NATO countries were only thinking of their exit date, he added.
Moscow has previously only allowed NATO rail transport access into Afghanistan from Russia, and overflights. But in the future, NATO will be able to bring supplies out of Afghanistan from Volga to the Baltic Sea by rail.