Pope inadvertently quotes Vladimir Putin in Afghanistan comment

Francis moved' by Angela Merkel's words on western intervention - in fact said by Russian president

Pope Francis has criticised the west's recent involvement in Afghanistan - inadvertently quoting Vladimir Putin in doing so.

In a wide-ranging interview with Spanish radio station COPE, the pope was asked for his thoughts on the redrawn political map of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of the US and its allies from the country after 20 years of war.