Decades after leaving the country, Russia is expanding its influence in Afghanistan as part of a broader regionalism strategy. In September 2018, the Russian government invited the Taliban to Moscow for talks. The meeting was cancelled only after the Afghan government protested, citing that only it should be negotiating with the Taliban. This invitation, however, helped to expose a relationship that Russia had been quietly building since 2014.
Russia had a few goals for establishing such a relationship. Russia saw it as a way to buttress its southern border against the then-growing Islamic State, which it perceived was a greater threat. Russia also saw an opportunity to position itself in Afghanistan should the US suddenly decide to pull-out. And in a move reminiscent of the Cold War, Russia saw its Taliban relationship as a way to confront US authority and influence in the area without a direct confrontation.
Beyond these goals, however, Russia is undeniably seeking a relationship with the Taliban to cement its position as the regional powerbroker. Before the direct invitation to Moscow, Russia had met with representatives from Iran, Pakistan, India, China, and even the US in support of the Taliban. Russian had even sponsored a Taliban military build-up near the northern Afghan border. This pattern of expanding influence on the Asian continent is part of Russia’s regionalism agenda. Sometimes, it expands influence , such as in Afghanistan; other times, it expand borders, such as in Crimea. Either way its regional power grows.
While one might not blame Russia for wanting to secure its southern flank, or even influence its own region, one has to acknowledge that Russia has regionalism on its mind.
References:
Washington Post, “The Kremlin’s comeback,” 14 October 2018.
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