South Asia 2013–2020: Russia’s Opportunities and Risks

... of regional countries in Afghan affairs and possibly exacerbate the differences between them. The problems of drug trafficking and related corruption and other criminal activities will worsen. We cannot exclude the potential that refugees will flee Afghanistan, creating a belt of instability in the border areas. A worsening situation in South Asia and its potentially destabilizing effect in Central Asia pose a serious danger for Russia. Russia will seek to mitigate this instability, countering the military and political threats that arise, terrorism and religious extremism, and using ...