Russia and Iran have openly admitted to independent relations with the Taleban.
Rumours of diplomatic talks between Moscow and the Taleban became official with the media reporting Russia’s ambassador to Afghanistan Alexander Mantytskiy’s open admission last week. After the statement, Mohammad Reza Bahrami, the Iranian ambassador, also admitted in Kabul that the Islamic republic was in contact with the Taleban.
Political observers think the timing of the announcement is deliberate, and Russia is testing the ground for a deeper engagement with Afghanistan. Russian state media has also recently reported on the possibility of Russian assistance to counter terrorism should the government in Kabul ask for help in getting equipment to the army and air force.
Political analyst Mohammad Qarabaghi observes, “All the (recent) statements show the interest of Russia to have a serious presence in Afghanistan.” He believes that Russia wants to replace western countries as the prop supporting both the Afghan and other governments in Central Asia. In Qarabaghi’s opinion if the Afghan government turns down the overtures, Moscow would try to find an alternative ally – Taleban.
Afghanistan is again being drawn into the tussle between the former superpowers and their allies with Russia trying to cash in on the widespread antagonism in Afghanistan to the US and its allies who have been entrenched in the country since 2001.
Reuter’s news agency reports Russian authorities have had meetings with some of the armed opponents of the Afghan government in Moscow and Tajikistan. Alarm bells have been ringing in Kabul. General John Nicholson, chief commander of the US forces in Afghanistan, has repeatedly expressed disapproval, and alleged Russia and Pakistan were joining hands to give legality to the Taleban. The same Reuter report quoted an unnamed Taleban source saying, “Russia is in contact with Taleban at least since 2007, but the support has not moved further than political and moral support.”
Russia has been critical of US foreign policy on Afghanistan, saying it has failed to either defeat or eliminate Taleban.
Endless interference
Naweed Elham, political analyst, is worried Afghanistan may again be drawn into a tussle between super powers. “Afghanistan has a long history of military interference from countries outside. In the 19th century, Russia (under the Tsar) and Britain tested who was more powerful. In the 1980s, the US fought a proxy war with its Cold War rival in Afghanistan, sending weapons through Pakistan to militia (mujahedin factions) fighting the Soviet army. The latest interference in the country’s affairs has been from the US-led NATO coalition forces. This is dangerous for Afghanistan.”
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg recently urged countries that are interfering in Afghanistan (read Russia and Iran) to stop at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
Omed Karimi, journalist and analyst says, “The ambassadors of Russia and Iran are attacking through propaganda the 15-year-old achievements in Afghanistan (of the US and its allies). (Afghanistan) may otherwise be faced with the experience of ethnic and sectarian wars –the proxy wars in countries like Syria and Iraq – repeated in our country.”
Individual government offices have reacted strongly against the statements by the Russian ambassador and his Iranian counterpart. Haroon Chakhansoori, spokesperson for the presidential palace, sought details about the nature of the two countries’ relations with the government of national unity. Parliament expressed serious concern while the Senate went one step further and summoned the Russian ambassador to explain the situation. Some MPs considered relations between Russia and Taleban were shameful. Zekria Sawda, an MP said, “It is shameful that Russia is interfering directly without taking Afghanistan into confidence.”
