BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — On Monday, the Russian government published a decision dated May 15 discontinuing a decree allowing NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to pass through Russia as a transit point for its military and personnel travelling to and from Afghanistan.
The arrangement had been used as an alternative to transit routes via Pakistan, where NATO convoys have been the frequent targets of militants.
"The NATO/Russia transit arrangements covered the movement of ISAF military equipment and were specific to ISAF and UNSCR 1386. These transit arrangements were commercial in nature. They expired on 31 December 2014, which is when ISAF was officially concluded," the official told RIA Novosti.
The unidentified NATO source noted that the military bloc made "sufficient support arrangements" in the run-up to its new Resolute Support mission that
"In light of that, NATO has not sought to extend transit arrangements with Russia on ISAF or to negotiate new arrangements for Resolute Support," the official said.
According to the NATO source, both parties operated under the assumption that the agreement was due to expire with the end of the security mission and, unless specifically extended, would not require formal notification.
