In 2015, Russia closed NATO supply routes and began sharing intelligence on IS [the Islamic State] with the Taliban.
By 2018, Russia had begun shipping weapons to the Taliban while facilitating talks between armed rebels and opposition politicians, further eroding the power of President Ashraf Ghani.
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The IS threat, and the belief in American intransigence or worse looms large in Russia’s rationalization of Taliban support.
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Taliban-enforced stability bodes well for CSTO [Russian NATO] nations, according to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, given the Taliban’s assurances that they have no designs on Tajikistan or Uzbekistan. In turn, Russia’s partners have sought the good graces of the Taliban, promoting the eye-catching argument that a Taliban victory would be a blow to jihadism.
cepa.org
Quid Pro Joe strikes again...
By 2018, Russia had begun shipping weapons to the Taliban while facilitating talks between armed rebels and opposition politicians, further eroding the power of President Ashraf Ghani.
<Snip>
The IS threat, and the belief in American intransigence or worse looms large in Russia’s rationalization of Taliban support.
<Snip>
Taliban-enforced stability bodes well for CSTO [Russian NATO] nations, according to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, given the Taliban’s assurances that they have no designs on Tajikistan or Uzbekistan. In turn, Russia’s partners have sought the good graces of the Taliban, promoting the eye-catching argument that a Taliban victory would be a blow to jihadism.
Careful What You Wish For: Russia and Afghanistan
Russia and China have worked hard to develop relations with the Taliban. Now their agreements with the Afghan group are about to be tested.
Quid Pro Joe strikes again...
