Afghan Taliban Aims To Help Russia's Labor Crisis
On April 17, 2025, Russia's Supreme Court suspended the country's ban on Taliban activities in Russia. The decision came into force on May 26, and was quickly followed by a gathering on June 18-21, when a delegation from the Taliban movement attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2025 (SPIEF).
The official delegation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan attends the SPIEF-2025, St, Petersburg. (Source: Kirill Zykov / RIA Novosti via Parlamentskaya Gazeta media).[1]
After the conference, the head of the Russian Business Centre in Afghanistan, Rustam Khabibullin, in an interview with Baza media, stated that the Taliban delegation had agreed at the forum to bring 1,000 Afghan workers to regions in Russia.[2] According to Baza, one hundred Afghan citizens were already working at construction sites in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Tatarstan. Khabibullin noted that the majority of such workers are "installers, welders, painters, electricians and other highly qualified specialists." It's expected that the new group of Afghan workers will be employed in Chechnya, Dagestan, and Krasnodar Krai. In addition, Khabibullin stated that "a group of construction specialists from Afghanistan" will be deployed in the "liberated Russian territories - DPR and LPR."[3] The Head of the Russian Business Centre asserted that Afghan construction specialists would be tasked with "clearing the territory and restoring infrastructure." "There is a great need for Afghan specialists in Russia," concluded Rustam Khabibullin.[4]
Indeed, Russia is experiencing a severe labor shortage, exacerbated by a difficult demographic situation, ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, and growing social tensions towards migrants. By the end of 2024, according to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, the shortage of qualified personnel in Russia had reached 1.5 million people (relying on data from Russia's Labour Ministry). The greatest demand is in construction, transportation, housing, and the communal services sectors.[5] At the same time, Rosstat[6] assessed the general labor shortage indicator at 2.2 million people.[7]
With these numbers in mind, several specialists interviewed by Kavkazskii Uzel media assessed the news about the possible arrival of 1,000 Afghan workers as a purely political gesture indicating Moscow's new disposition towards Kabul.[8] For instance, political scientist Denga Khalidov noted that Russia is simply making "a soft diplomatic step towards Afghanistan," demonstrating its readiness for cooperation. "I doubt that a thousand workers from Afghanistan can solve the shortage of construction workers in Russia," concluded the political scientist.[9] Professor of the Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia at Moscow State University Natalia Zubarevich agrees: "This is a drop in the ocean. Here are the numbers: last year 47,000 foreign specialists were attracted to Russia. In total, we have 72 million people employed (in the economic sector) – I'm talking about the skilled labour force." According to the professor, Chechnya and Dagestan alone require a greater number of workers than those arriving from Afghanistan.[10]
The official delegation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan at SPIEF-2025, St, Petersburg. (Source Maxim Bogodvid/RIA Novosti, via Gazeta.Ru media).[11]
This is happening against a backdrop of growing social tensions towards foreign workers and an unprecedented tightening of immigration laws in Russia. For instance, according to the Levada polling agency report of May 16, 2025, two thirds of respondents (66%) believe that migrants increase the crime rate; more than half stated that migrants take jobs from Russians (56%); every second respondent thinks that migrants "destroy" Russian culture (52%); every other respondent disagreed with a statement that migrants in general contribute to the development of the Russian economy (51%). Most respondents believe that the Russian government should limit the influx of immigrants (70%).[12]
Thus, news about the arrival of specialists from Afghanistan caused discontent in patriotic groups. For example, the largest nationalist organization in the country, the "Russian Community," via its Telegram account, wondered how many of these Afghan workers took part in hostilities in their own country and "overthrew the existing legitimate regime there," or were involved in terrorist and sabotage activities. "It's not clear in what way the Afghan laborers are better than the local workers and why such a need arose...The vise of the people's friendship continues to squeeze Russia with its steel spikes," concluded the group.[13] The post attracted over 7,000 views.
The fascist and monarchist "Sons of Monarchy" Telegram channel managed by Russian nationalist Roman Antonovski, agreed: "Russia needs Afghan migrants even less than Tajik ones. They are even deported from Iran and Pakistan. Perhaps we should consider the negative experience of these countries, which have faced the fact that [streams of] Afghan migrants and refugees are swarmed with criminals, Islamists and saboteurs?" The post gathered more than 12,000 views.[14] In yet another post dedicated to the issue, Antonovski predicted that Afghan migrants would become an even bigger problem for Russia than Tajik ones, dubbing the initiative "suicide, sabotage, and provocation."[15]
Another voice came from the neo-Nazi "NSN - Sector Rus," which greatly exaggerated the news, writing about a "massive influx of migrant workers from Afghanistan."[16] In turn, a corresponding post by the xenophobic "Manynational" Telegram channel gathered an absolute majority of negative and indignant reactions, with more than 166,000 views.
A screenshot by the xenophobic and nationalist "Manynational" Telegram channel dedicated to the Taliban delegation's visit to the SPIEF-2025. The overwhelming majority of users left mocking, angry or indignant reactions to the news that Afghan workers would be invited to Russia. (Source: Telegram Manynational).[17]
Objective measures of the Russian economy indicate that an influx of foreign labor is required. Yet many patriotic groups, amid rising nationalism and worsening interethnic relations, oppose foreign workers on Russian soil. It is safe to assume that antagonism to the state policy in this sphere by nationalist groups will only grow.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
6 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Kremlin signals stalled progress on Ukraine after Putin-Trump discussion
Shafaq News – Washington/Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin told US President Donald Trump on Thursday that Moscow will not abandon its objectives in Ukraine, while also stressing the need for diplomatic solutions to conflicts in the Middle East, according to Russian and American media. In a one-hour-long call, both sides discussed the war in Ukraine, regional tensions in the Middle East, and joint economic projects. The call is the sixth publicized phone conversation between the two leaders since the start of Trump's second term. 'Putin expressed openness to continued negotiations with Kyiv,' Yury Ushakov, the Russian President's foreign policy adviser, told reporters, adding that 'our president also declared that Russia will pursue its objectives — namely, to eliminate the well-known root causes of the current situation.' Ushakov said that Putin emphasized to Trump the importance of resolving Middle East conflicts through political and diplomatic means, including the recent flare-up between Iran and Israel. The leaders also discussed potential economic cooperation, particularly in the energy and space sectors. According to Ushakov, both presidents agreed that such joint projects 'would be beneficial for both Moscow and Washington.' Meanwhile, Western media outlets reported that Trump is expected to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday to address the recent suspension of certain US weapons shipments to Ukraine.
Rudaw Net
10 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Surge in Iran's deportation of Afghans sparks ‘scapegoating' fears after Israel conflict
Also in Iran Iranian president announces order to end cooperation with IAEA Iran's nuclear program damaged, not 'obliterated': Former IAEA inspector Pezeshkian, Macron discuss IAEA oversight, Tehran's return to nuclear talks Families of prisoners left in the dark after Israeli strike kills 71 at Iran's Evin prison A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - International organizations are warning of an escalating humanitarian crisis, as Iran intensifies deportations of Afghan migrants, including nearly 3,000 Afghan families on Tuesday alone. The deportations coincide with Iran's crackdown on people it alleges have collaborated with Israel during the recent 12-day conflict between the two - prompting growing concerns of 'scapegoating.' Save the Children reported on Wednesday that "about 80,000 Afghan children crossed into Afghanistan from Iran' in June - more than double the numbers recorded in May. Of these children, approximately "6,700 were unaccompanied and nearly 39 percent…were forcibly returned." One day earlier, Afghanistan's state-run Bakhtar News Agency reported the return of 2,954 families from Iran in a single day. For its part, the United Nations issued a stark warning Monday, stating that the massive influx of returnees is overwhelming Afghanistan's already fragile support systems. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that "more than 700,000 Afghan migrants have returned from Iran so far this year, including 256,000 in June alone." The IOM emphasized that 99 percent of these returnees are undocumented, with 70 percent forcibly returned, adding that this marks a concerning trend as 'entire families are now being deported, rather than predominantly single young men.' IOM attributed the surge to a March 20 directive by Iran requiring all undocumented Afghans to leave, adding that the situation was exacerbated by the June conflict with Israel, after which 'border crossings skyrocketed from about 5,000 to nearly 30,000 daily.' Israel on June 13 struck targets inside Iran resulting in the deaths of several senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. In retaliation, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel. A US-brokered ceasefire came into effect on June 24 and seems to be holding. The UN further warned that Afghanistan, already facing economic collapse and a chronic humanitarian crisis, is unprepared to absorb such large-scale returns. It elaborated that its 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) has received only "22.2 percent of its $2.42 billion target" to date, leaving aid operations critically underfunded. 'The scale of returns is deeply alarming and demands a stronger and more immediate international response. Afghanistan cannot manage this alone," said IOM Director General Amy Pope. Meanwhile, Arafat Jamal, the UNHCR representative for Afghanistan, told Reuters on Wednesday that he was concerned about the recent pushbacks, warning that anger over Israel's military actions in Iran may be spilling over onto Afghans - who risk being scapegoated. Jamal cautioned that a "perfect storm" is brewing for Afghanistan, as the country struggles to cope with a massive influx of returnees. Tehran's take Iran, for its part, has justified its actions on national security grounds. The semi-official Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), on Tuesday quoted Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani as saying, "Iran has hosted a large number of foreign nationals for nearly five decades," but emphasized that this 'does not mean expulsion, but a return to their homeland.' She stressed that 'Iran's national security is a priority, and naturally illegal nationals must return.' In addition to the deportations, Tehran's state-run news agency (IRNA) on Thursday reported that the government and parliament are now 'more insistent than ever on organizing foreign nationals' presence' through a proposed National Migration Organization, a draft law submitted to the Iranian legislature last December. IRNA added that this push has been accelerated by what it described as 'the Zionist regime's aggression' on Iran, after 'it became clear during and after the conflict that some foreign nationals were involved in espionage for the Zionist regime, terrorist acts, or building suicide drones for the enemy.' The outlet claimed that 'a number of these individuals were arrested by intelligence and military agencies." In the aftermath of a 12-day conflict with Israel, Iranian authorities carried out sweeping raids with IRGC-affiliated media outlet Fars News Agency, reporting that over 700 individuals, including Afghans, were arrested on charges of espionage and collaboration with Israel. Iranian authorities have reportedly confiscated phones and uncovered "active espionage and sabotage networks." State TV has also aired 'confessions' from detained Afghans, although their authenticity remains unverified. Iranian authorities have conducted widespread raids and confiscated phones, alleging "active espionage and sabotage networks." State television has aired "confessions" from detained Afghans, though their veracity is unverified. Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni told state media last week that 'one of his main priorities is the organization of foreign nationals.' He added, 'The reality is that Iran, in terms of capacity and capability, cannot accommodate this volume of foreign nationals.' Momeni went further, stating: 'We have many honorable people among them [foreign nationals], but some have entered with specific objectives, especially in the last two or three years, and this is where the necessity of organization becomes clear.' He further urged lawmakers to prioritize the National Migration Organization bill, calling it 'one of the country's vital laws, as it directly relates to our demographic, economic, security, and even identity structure.' In response to the deportations, Afghanistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, issued an urgent appeal on Wednesday calling on Iran to 'immediately reconsider its decision to forcibly deport Afghan migrants.' He emphasized the need for dignity and respect for international human rights principles, warning that 'unjust and mass expulsions risk creating a broader humanitarian and security crisis across the region.'
Memri
11 hours ago
- Memri
Russian Columnist Dmitry Drize: 'Iran Is No Longer A Regional Leader'
On June 27, 2025, Russian columnist Dmitry Drize wrote in the Russian daily Kommersant an article, titled "The Middle East is Already Changing," in which he assessed that, after the 12-day Israel-Iran war, the main conclusion is "obvious": "Iran is no longer a regional leader, much less a superpower that terrifies its neighbors." "Kommersant FM" columnist, Dmitry Drize (Source: Yuri Martyanov / Kommersant) Below are excerpts of Drize's article:[1] "Iran's Nuclear Program Has Not Been Completely Destroyed, Thus Sooner Or Later Its Opponents Will Have To Repeat The Strikes" "The 12-day war is over; the progressive world community discusses how long the peace will last. There are different conclusions, but it all boils down to the fact that Iran's nuclear program has not been completely destroyed, thus sooner or later its opponents will have to repeat the strikes. The question is in the timing. As is known, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proclaimed a total and unconditional victory not only over the 'Zionist entity,' but even over America, which committed an act of aggression against absolutely peaceful objects of the Islamic Republic... "Be that as it may, Tehran admits that the nuclear program has been damaged, perhaps even critically. The meaning of these statements is clear – they are made so that [Israel and the U.S.] will no longer bomb Iran... "Donald Trump also harshly criticized journalists who question the success of the American bombing operation. The press reports that the White House will soon present a plan for the New Middle East, as a result of which wars will become a thing of the past and peace and absolute idyll will be established. Naturally, this is hard to believe. "There Are Reports That Iran Plans To Buy J-10 Jet Fighters From China" "So, what's next? The sides are now calculating their losses and evaluating their options. There are reports that Iran plans to buy J-10 jet fighters from China, which are believed to have demonstrated a great performance during the three-day war between India and Pakistan. By the way, the vehicles are supposed to be purchased instead of Russian Su-35, primarily because the Chinese models are cheaper and less fastidious in terms of maintenance. "However, it is not certain that the deal will take place. Meetings on this issue have been going on for a long time. Beijing is extremely cautious regarding such a step. America, of course, is a competitor and even an adversary, but on the other hand, it is an important trading partner [for China]. Why provide an unnecessary reason for disagreement? Especially since the future of the current power in Tehran, as mentioned above, does not look cloudless at all." "The Middle East Is Already Changing" "The main conclusion is obvious – Iran is no longer a regional leader, much less a superpower that terrifies its neighbors. So, someone else will claim this high title from now on. There are many candidates, including Turkey and the Gulf monarchies. Israel, for its part, has re-established its position, where it wields the power of the strongest. It may not be a contender for leadership, but it is better not to anger this state or test its strength. "In fact, the Middle East is already changing. It remains to be seen what the outcome of it will be. However, something tells me that the situation will not change for the worse; it is quite possible that it will be better. The process is underway and it is gaining momentum every day. This is the essence of changes in the current world order. It would be good, of course, to do without wars, but there is nothing to be done. Man is still imperfect."
