RUSSIA’S deepening engagement with the Taliban has entered a new phase. During a recent visit to Moscow, Taliban Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob signed military and technical cooperation arrangements with Russian officials, signaling a growing security partnership between the two sides. It’s not to forget that Russia was the first country to formally recognize the Taliban government, breaking with the broader international consensus of diplomatic isolation. Yet Moscow’s outreach presents a striking contradiction.

Only days before expanding cooperation, senior Russian security officials publicly warned about the growing terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan. Russian authorities have repeatedly expressed concern over the activities of ISIS-K, Al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other extremist organizations operating from Afghan territory. Russian security assessments have estimated that around 20000 terrorists remain active in Afghanistan, while officials have........

© Pakistan Observer