From AP: On Wednesday, the NATO-Russia Council — a panel set up in 2002 to improve ties between the former Cold War rivals — also discussed combatting drug smuggling from Afghanistan into Central Asia, NATO spokesman James Appathurai said.

“There was a shared desire to strengthen the NATO-Russia Council by focusing on practical issues,” Appathurai said.

The issue of overland transit for NATO’s military supplies to Afghanistan through Russia and the Central Asian states also was discussed, he said. NATO recently reached agreements with Russia and Uzbekistan for the transport by rail of equipment and supplies, but has yet to do the same with Kazakhstan before regular deliveries can begin.