Obama, Medvedev agree progress slow in Afghanistan

MOSCOW — President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart agree that there hasn’t been as much progress as they’d like to see in the fight against insurgents in Afghanistan.

Their comments at a Monday news conference in Moscow followed a Russian commitment to let U.S. troops and weapons cross Russian territory on their way to Afghanistan.

Obama said it’s too soon to measure the success of his new strategy in Afghanistan, which includes the deployment of additional U.S. troops. He says after that country’s election is completed, the U.S. can take another look at the situation.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says in some respects, progress has been “insignificant” in Afghanistan. He said it’s hard to say how quickly the situation will improve.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

MOSCOW (AP) — Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev (dih-MEE’-tree med-VYEH’-dyev) have signed a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to fighting terrorists and drug traffickers in Afghanistan, one of eight agreements to come out of extended meetings on the first day of the Moscow summit.

The White House said the U.S. and Russian leaders also vowed to press forward jointly with bettering the Afghan economy, social structures and living standards.

Defeating Taliban and al-Qaida allied militants in Afghanistan is one of Obama’s top foreign policy objectives. The Russians have shown considerable sympathy for the administration’s drive, particularly because the illicit flow of opium and heroin that is plaguing the Russian federation.

The Russians also are deeply concerned about the expansion of Islamic extremism in the former Soviet republics that border Afghanistan.