Russia and Afghanistan: Between Fear and Opportunity

Abstract

A mixture of fear and opportunity have motivated Russian government policies towards the new Taliban government in Kabul. Fears that the group will resume supporting international terrorist groups have declined, though worries persist that the group may not be able to constrain some extremists, who could be inspired by the Taliban victory in Afghanistan to promote Muslim militancy in Central Asia or the North Caucasus. Moscow also perceives opportunities to advance its economic and security interests in Afghanistan and elsewhere.