Russia's Taliban tilt

Russia's move to delist Taliban as terrorists marks a shift, fostering cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts.

Taliban are making inroads in diplomacy. The realisation from Moscow to normalise ties with Kabul is a game-changer in their otherwise suspicious module of interaction. The decision, of late, by Russia to remove the Afghan Taliban from the list of terrorist organisations has come as a major CBM, and underscores the changing perspective with which Afghanistan and its reigning dispensation is being viewed by regional players. China was the first to kick-start a dialogue process with Taliban when they thronged to power in 2021, and subsequently accepted its ambassador. It was following by Russians coming out to engage the militia leadership and hosting them at the highest level at Kremlin.

The process to delist the Taliban from the terror nexus will take some time. The good point is that the decision enjoys broad-based support. Instantly, Moscow has chalked out a proactive agenda wherein it wants to engage with the Afghan Taliban as partners in counter-terrorism operations. This is a smart move and strikes a common denominator with the reclusive leadership as they are in a serious struggle at home to overcome terror fissures.

That paradigm of cooperation has come from President Vladimir Putin's special representative on Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, who was quoted as saying that Moscow sees Taliban as an ally. That squarely reflects the undercurrents through which Russia wants to win over Afghanistan by citing the excesses of the United States, and helping it rebuild once again. For many it speaks of a doctrine in burying the hatchet, after the Soviets themselves being invaders of the landlocked state.

Moscow desires a peaceful Afghanistan to further its interests in Eurasia, and is appreciative of Taliban's anti-drugs policy and the defiance it is putting up against non-state actors. Moreover, Taliban's thrust to be part of BRICS indicates the commonality of vision, as they foment an anti-West alliance in the making. This new decorum should come with some sense of responsibility from Taliban 2.0 in the form of ushering in inclusivity and cleansing the Afghan soil of TTP and their likes.