By Shoecuckoo.
U.S.’s sudden withdrawal from Afghanistan, thanks to Joe Biden administration, has created many long-term nasty consequences, one of which is the large arsenal of weapons and ammunition left behind at the disposal of the Taliban Movement.
After the Taliban took control of the country on August 15, 2021, Taliban forces executed many former members of the Afghan government’s security forces. A freeze on Afghanistan’s currency reserves and the loss of foreign aid accelerated an economic collapse, leaving millions of Afghans at risk of famine. The collapse of the country’s health services meant that many Afghans faced a loss of most physical and mental health care. Many secondary schools for girls remained closed by the end of the year, and women were prohibited from working in jobs outside of teaching and health care. Large numbers of people have recently taken to the streets, even at the risk of being arrested or shot, showing that life outside a democracy is meaningless.Â
Focusing on a single flashpoint invites the risk of missing all other significant development and thereby losing the bigger picture. This is exactly what has been happening in the current fixation with the situation at the Ukraine border. The Ukrainian crisis has overshadowed the sudden change in the Russian approach towards the Taliban. The mainstream media would want everyone to believe that Russia and China are working together to support the Taliban stabilize Afghanistan and thereby consolidate their influence. However, the developments in the region and the way in which Moscow’s extension, i.e., Central Asian republics are handling the Afghanistan Taliban tell an entirely different tale. Russia under Vladimir Putin has reinvigorated its appetite to bring back the grandeur of the USSR’s territorial stretches as well as its zones of influence, making sure to consolidate its zone of influence in Central Asia. By consolidating its control over the region and denying China the same, Russia has established the perfect leverage.Â
Taliban, armed to its teeth with American weaponry, is now more appealing than ever. Considering its vengeful legacy with the westernized countries, it’s hard to imagine they’ll keep to themselves and fester in their own misery. Yet, Taliban cannot survive on its own if the world keeps refusing to grant it legitimacy. Therefore, Afghanistan remains a great catch for Vladimir Putin, which is even a sweeter gift coming through the Biden administration.Â