As Russia turns away from the West, it desires economic links and a role in Afghanistan’s future and offers olive branches to the Taliban.
Reaching out to the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan, Sergei Shoigu, the powerful secretary of Russia’s Security Council, has sent a message of constructive conversation and collaboration, highlighting Moscow’s changing regional approach.
Shoigu’s trip to Kabul, where he spoke with top Taliban leaders, including the military and interior ministries as well as the deputy prime ministers, marks a dramatic change in Russia’s attitude toward the nation devastated by conflict.
The overtures of the former defense minister point to a Kremlin turn away from its past hostile posture toward the Taliban and a want for a more pragmatic partnership.
The central focus of the conversations was Russia’s seeming readiness to support the Taliban administration in reaching a “durable peace” in Afghanistan.
Moscow’s earlier resistance to interact directly with the Taliban, a group it had long seen as a danger to regional security, signals a change in tone.
Fascinatingly, Shoigu also urged the US to take the lead in reconstructing Afghanistan, a move that could potentially shift the burden and responsibility away from Russia.
The Kremlin official accused Washington of “robbing” Afghanistan by withholding its assets and money, likely in response to the Taliban’s complaints against the US.
For their part, the Taliban grabbed the chance to ask Russia for help relieving Western sanctions pressure, which has severely damaged the nation’s economy since the Taliban’s elevation to power in 2021.
Abdul Ghani Baradar, Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, personally addressed Shoigu to underline the Taliban’s desire for outside aid.
Shoigu responded by stressing possible areas of economic collaboration, like mineral exploitation and the construction of a trans-Afghan railway project.
This recommendation fits Russia’s larger geopolitical turn toward Asia and the non-Western world, motivated by the isolation the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine brought about.
Russia’s increasing interaction with the Taliban points to a major change in the regional power balance.
Despite the lingering legacy of the Soviet-Afghan conflict, Moscow appears prepared to form a pragmatic partnership with the Taliban, potentially positioning itself as a significant player in shaping Afghanistan’s future.
This fresh Russian-Taliban relationship may have far-reaching consequences for the security, economic environment, and geopolitical impact of the area as the world community works through the aftermath of the U.S. exit and the Taliban’s power consolidation.
The paper emphasizes the erratic and complicated character of the changing alliances in Afghanistan’s post-American age.