Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:
[ColonelCassad] Putin's special representative for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said Russia could help the Taliban's anti-terrorist efforts to combat ISIS.
1. Not long ago, the Taliban were officially written off as terrorists, although in fact since 2022. So there are no legal obstacles to such relations.
2. The Taliban have abandoned terrorist practices since 2021 (the last terrorist attacks were committed against the troops of the puppet regime of Ghani in the spring-summer of 2021).
3. The greatest danger to the Taliban is the Afghan wilayat of ISIS (aka wilayat Khorasan, banned in the Russian Federation). At one time, it was nurtured by the Americans, which was confirmed by both the Taliban and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai).
Bloody terrorist attacks organized by ISIS occur quite regularly in Afghanistan. The Taliban are hunting for "black" ones and in most cases do not take prisoners.
4. Russia has repeatedly made it clear that in order to further legalize the Taliban, it needs to strengthen the fight against drug production and the fight against ISIS and Al-Qaeda structures.
| For decades the Taliban have partnered with the local narco gangs to produce opium and heroin refined from opium. The Talibs provide protection, while the narco gangs, generally local tribal leaders, provide the local farmers who do the actual work. Al Qaeda and related jihadi groups have also long been given protection by the Taliban, to the point of several generations now intermarrying with the local Talibs. So while there might possibly be strengthening against ISIS-K, there most certainly won’t be against anyone else, continuing the promises and practices of the past two decades — and the more fools the Russians if they really believe otherwise. Let us hope these pious hopes are none other than cynical humbuggery. |
6. In theory, they can start with an exchange of intelligence and agreements on the mutual extradition of terrorists.
In general, I think there will be a lot of interesting news in the coming year regarding contacts with the Taliban.