2024-07-03 10:30:08
Moscow: Russia has stepped up efforts to prevent Afghanistan from re-emerging as a terror haven since the March 2024 attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Centre, allegedly by the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP). One way to do this, as Russian actions show, is greater engagement with the Taliban. Recently, the Russian Foreign Ministry and Justice Ministry have sent a proposal to President Vladimir Putin to remove the Taliban from the list of terror organisations. The Taliban was declared a terrorist group by Russia in 2003. Given that India and Russia cooperate on terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, it is important to understand the new developments in Afghanistan and India-Russia cooperation on counterterrorism.
Protection of your interests
According to ORF report, Russia’s decision to remove the Taliban from its terror list was not a sudden one but is seen as a ‘limited risk’ scenario. Despite being denied recognition, the group is still under UN Security Council sanctions, Moscow’s decision is aimed at gaining leverage with the Taliban-run Islamic Emirate. Since the fall of Kabul, Russia has been engaged with the Taliban. Russian diplomats remain in Kabul and their embassy remains open. Moscow also recognised a Taliban-appointed diplomat in August 2022 and accepted a military attache in February this year. It invited the group to Moscow format consultations in 2021 and 2022 and twice to the St Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2022 and 2024. The country’s special envoy also recently hinted at Kabul’s possible inclusion in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), provided it is recognised.
Why did Russia get closer to the Taliban
In its 2023 foreign policy concept, Russia articulated its long-term objective of integrating Afghanistan into the Eurasian region for cooperation. Thus, there is also a strong geo-economic factor behind Moscow’s inclination towards the Taliban and the group’s removal from the terrorist list is expected to boost bilateral economic ties. Projects such as the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railroad and the Afghan sector of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas sector could boost economic activity in Afghanistan, improve regional connectivity and enhance border infrastructure to prevent terrorist infiltration.
India-Taliban relations started improving from 2022
India has had a technical team stationed at its embassy in Kabul since June 2022. New Delhi’s engagement with the group has also grown, with Indian officials meeting the acting foreign minister of the Taliban government in March 2024 to discuss the provision of aid and the use of Chabahar by Afghan traders. The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment also held an online meeting with Indian Ports Global Limited to discuss the use of the port by the country’s traders. Taliban-appointed diplomats have not been formally recognised by India, however, as the Afghan Republic-era ambassador and Mumbai consul general have resigned. India has had a technical team stationed at its embassy in Kabul since June 2022.
India’s increased cooperation with Taliban
India’s engagement with the Taliban has also grown. Indian officials met the acting foreign minister of the Taliban government in March 2024 to discuss the provision of aid and the use of Chabahar by Afghan traders. Highlighting the need for the Taliban to uphold the rights of women and minorities and establish an inclusive government, India has insisted that Afghanistan should not be used as a haven for terrorist groups, placing the onus on the Taliban to counter the threat. It considers both anti-India terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and transnational groups as a major threat to its security and strategic interests.
India wants to control terrorism in Kashmir
For India, the presence of LeT and JeM in Afghanistan and apprehensions about their potential to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir have been a major concern. The 13th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team noted that Jaish-e-Mohammed has maintained training camps in Afghanistan, some of which are under the direct control of the Taliban, and that Lashkar-e-Taiba has provided finance and training support to Taliban operations. For New Delhi, stability in Afghanistan is also important for its access to the Central Asian republics.