KABUL, June 12 (Xinhuanet) -- The Afghan Defense Ministry on Sunday described as "irresponsible and baseless" the recent remarks of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov in which he accused Afghanistan of involvement in the recent violence in Uzbekistan.

    "The irresponsible remarks made by Mr. Ivanov is a clear indication of Russia's expansionist policy in the central and southern Asian regions," Defense Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi said at a press conference here.

    According to media, Ivanov in his recent remarks said that terrorists who received training in Afghanistan were responsible for the unrest in Andy Jan of Uzbekistan last month.

    "We utterly reject the Russian Defense Minister's allegations as we are actively fighting terrorism with international support in Afghanistan and sacrifice our beloved sons in this way," Azimi noted.

    He said Afghanistan, besides wishing to develop friendship withits neighbors, would not allow anyone to interfere in its affairs.

    Hoping the remarks to be personal view of the Russian defense minister, the Afghan official asked Moscow to clarify its stance vis-a-vis the issue.

    It is the second time that post-conflict Afghanistan has criticized its cold-war era ally in the region. In a similar reaction Kabul also lashed out at Ivanov's remarks vis-a-vis the Afghan cabinet last year.

    "Today's Russia or the former Soviet Union is the source of allmiseries in Afghanistan," the Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman stressed. Enditem