On November 25, 2021, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) together with the Strategic Vision Institute (SVI, Pakistan) held a closed webinar “Current Turmoil in Afghanistan: Russia-Pakistan Potential Role”
On November 25, 2021, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) together with the Strategic Vision Institute (SVI, Pakistan) held a closed webinar “Current Turmoil in Afghanistan: Russia-Pakistan Potential Role”....
... all”, it can be expected that the “arc of instability” that girdles Eurasia will be broken. This will be an important geostrategic change in the region, which since the second half of the 19th century has been a field of rivalry between mainland Russia and the Anglo-Saxon powers — first Britain and later the United States.
But what is happening and will continue to happen in Afghanistan may have more varied consequences. With a high degree of probability, it will strengthen the position of Pakistan, which already closely cooperates with China and relies on its economic opportunities. India will feel more insecure — this country already estimates the fall of the republican government in Kabul as a serious blow to its strategic interests....
... their withdrawal.
The NATO withdrawal creates significant hurdles for regional stability and a power vacuum in Central Asia. There are several players, both internal and external, who are seeking to fill the void left by the Americans and their allies. Pakistan, India, Iran, Turkey, China and Russia seem poised to play the next “
great game
” in the so-called “
graveyard of empires
”. Some of these states have a vested interest in the stability of Afghanistan to ensure regional security and foster economic interests as well as mitigate the spread of extremism and narcotics flows from the state. Some actors stand to benefit from the current instability; supporting rival groups in hopes of enhancing ...
... he will actually do it. The thing is, if we do not see any real steps made in the intra-Afghan process, then the Americans will find it increasingly difficult to put on a happy face. This is what makes the joint call of the special representatives of Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan for foreign troops in Afghanistan to “withdraw in an orderly and responsible manner to ensure a smooth transition” published on May 18, 2020, particularly relevant. Both the government of Afghanistan and U.S. officials have made it clear that they are ready to open the ...
... institute, visited Russian International Affairs Council.
On April 23, 2019, Dr.Zafar Iqbal Cheema, President of Strategic Vision, Pakistani research institute, visited Russian International Affairs Council.
The following issues were discussed in the course of the meeting: opportunities for expanding ... ... possible multilateral nuclear arms control mechanisms in Asia, and likely scenarios for the development of the situation in Afghanistan.
... results of the Moscow talks in a gentleman's way declared the usefulness of both initiatives. However, the matter of whether Afghanistan will become a point of joint and coordinated actions of the United States and Russia remains open.
Most likely a constructive dialogue between Moscow and Washington will not be formed because of many regional issues: American-Iranian relations, the Pakistani-Indian conflict, the actual intra-Afghan confrontation and the dynamics of Russian-American relations.
Especially considering ...
... the US has decided in principle to reduce its active participation there.
If appropriate security measures are not taken in the transitional period, the withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan is going to have an impact on regional states neighbouring Afghanistan like Pakistan, Russia, China and Iran, etc. To achieve a better outcome, broader critical issues have to be addressed and satisfactory guarantees obtained. Posting of the UN-led peacekeeping force is one of the options. Moreover, many other issues like appropriate change ...
... has always been seemed a little “out there.” However, projects are in the works that could seriously turn the tables. And Russia’s relations with Iran might play a role here.
The idea to build a gas pipeline across South Asia is nothing new. There is already the off-and-on Peace pipeline from Iran to Pakistan and further to India (known as IP Gas), as well as the TAPI gas pipeline (involving Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India). It should be noted that Iran and Turkmenistan, the gas producers for both projects, have already ...
... deepening of the SCO’s geopolitical dimension following the accession of India and Pakistan last year, whose leaders first took part in the organization’s activities... ... Organisation has become the world’s largest association, the global nature of which Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to in an
interview
with the China Media Group... ... participants once again confirmed their unfailing support for regulating the situation in Afghanistan exclusively by peaceful means and by the Afghan people themselves, and called...
... but on a new footing. Next in geographical terms would be India – because our relations with India are clear and there are unused opportunities that have been missed in the last 30 years.
How would you characterise the Russia-Pakistan relationship?
Pakistan is an important player, we want to be involved, have a relationship with them. But they are not in the same category as China or India.
Is Russia supporting Taliban in Afghanistan?
We are playing a very complicated game – sometimes we support somebody, sometimes we help somebody else. Taliban is also different. When we saw the US going in with ground troops we were aghast. That was a disaster. Now it’s different ...
