Moscow Between Kabul and Islamabad: Can Russia Reduce Tensions?

Russia’s diplomatic engagement in South Asia offers an opportunity to ease Pakistan–Afghanistan tensions and strengthen regional stability. Lasting peace, however, requires constructive dialogue, regional cooperation, and a collective commitment to counterterrorism.

Russia’s Diplomatic Engagement and the Search for Regional Stability

Pakistan–Afghanistan Tensions and the Regional Security Challenge

Pakistan and Afghanistan have been accusing each other of cross-border violations for the past few months. The Pakistani government and intelligence agencies hold that the Taliban government in Afghanistan provides safe havens to terrorist organizations like the Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). These terrorist outfits use Afghan soil to conduct terrorist activities in Pakistan. On the other hand, the Afghan Taliban make irredentist claims on bordering Pakistani cities while denying Pakistani allegations of assisting terrorist and separatist organizations. Tensions between the two sides have intensified in recent years. The Afghan border forces have repeatedly attacked and targeted Pakistani border check posts. Pakistan has also conducted repeated airstrikes on alleged terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan. This situation has once again destabilized South........

© New Eastern Outlook