Russia faces major risks on Afghanistan despite Kremlin claiming propaganda victory over U.S.
The unfolding crisis in Afghanistan poses substantial risks to Russia and Central Asia, geopolitical experts have warned, even as the Kremlin seeks to claim a propaganda victory over the U.S.
The Kremlin’s envoys have insisted the U.S. should not shift responsibility for Afghanistan’s collapse onto others and state media channels have sought to portray the departure of American troops from Afghanistan as a significant coup.
More recently, however, the tone appears to have shifted. “The situation is developing, time is running out, the situation remains extremely tense and we still follow it most closely and retain our concerns,” Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, said on Wednesday.
“If stability holds under the Taliban, and the Taliban keeps to its promise not to let Afghanistan be a base for attacks on Russia and Central Asia, and, ideally, stops the flow of opium, then Russia can live with it,” Oliker added. “But things could go badly — Russia will be looking to reinforce Central Asia as needed.”
Reference: CNBC