Latest news with #Taliban-ruled
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First Post
21-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Russia recognised Taliban, but India must tread cautiously
Given the fragile security landscape and many competing forces vying for influence in Kabul, placing exclusive bets on the Taliban would be strategically unwise for India. Representational Image In a significant turn of events, on July 3, Russia became the first nation to officially recognise the Taliban-ruled 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan', a political entity not recognised by any other state in the world. Ever since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, it took 4 years for the Kremlin to extend de jure recognition to the Taliban. However, Russia has been engaged with the Taliban at the highest level since 2021 and has treated Taliban authorities as de facto rulers. The Russian embassy was kept open and had been fully functional throughout. Besides Russia, other states also have a pragmatic or de facto relationship with Afghanistan, such as the UAE, Azerbaijan, Turkey, China, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan, for their respective diplomatic reasons and have allowed the Taliban to man their embassies in their respective countries. Still, they have stopped short of formally recognising it as a 'state'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It can be anybody's guess that it is just a matter of time before recognition of the group as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan happens. China welcomed the Kremlin's move, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, 'Beijing supports the international community in strengthening engagement and dialogue with the Afghan interim government.' Despite diplomatic overtures by other regional players, the Chinese still withhold formal recognition of Afghanistan. Prima facie, Russia's engagement and sustained cooperation with the Taliban in Afghanistan is primarily to keep a check on the Taliban's rival terrorist groups, mainly the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP), and seeking the Taliban's guarantee that Afghanistan will not be used as a launchpad against Russia and its allies necessitates the Kremlin's recognition of the regime. ISKP's terrorist attacks in Moscow in 2024, which left 133 people dead, created a common enemy, forcing the Kremlin to explore pragmatic cooperation with the Taliban it loathed. As ISKP consists mainly of defected Talibani commanders and soldiers, a sworn enemy and ideologically hostile to the Taliban, it has openly declared it an apostate regime. The militant group is known to commit terror acts not just in Afghanistan, but also in Pakistan, Iran, and even Central Asia, which is a de facto strategic and security realm of Russia. However, the urgency shown in the formal declaration by Russia warrants scrutiny, as it carries signals for other regional players, including India. Some scholars believe this is a Russian gift for the Taliban in recognition of its cooperation on counter-terrorism and its sensitivity towards Moscow's security and strategic concerns. Geography Shape Choices STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Afghanistan sits at the crossroads of three geopolitical hotspots in Asia: West Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia. A region with the latent potential to cause instability across its periphery. For Russia, imperatives of stability and security in Central Asia and the North Caucasus compel it to reassess the strategic utility of Afghanistan, regardless of the regime's nature. Russia cannot afford to alienate a state that holds the geographic keys to its regional strategy and, most importantly, security in its backyard—even if that state is unstable, isolated, or untouchable among a comity of nations. Russia's dalliance with the Taliban underscores the enduring truth of the geopolitics that geography dictates state moves and motives. Russia already uses Afghanistan as a transit route for energy exports heading to Southeast Asia. In geopolitics, the moral or normative considerations associated with the regime type often succumb to geographic and economic necessity. Unlike the West, for Russia, interests take precedence over values. In the case of Afghanistan, geography doesn't guarantee affluence, but it certainly guarantees relevance. Historically, its significance has not been restricted to only regional powers; even global powers in the past have attempted to exercise levers in the country. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US Withdrawal The hasty withdrawal of the US from Kabul in February 2021 resulted in a power vacuum. As with any vacuum, it has attracted a range of regional forces—some overlapping, others disjoint—each seeking to assert influence driven by their respective national interests. As preceding sections of the article underline, the security of its southern realm drives the Russian active engagement with the Taliban. Similarly, despite initial inhibition, other countries in the region, such as India, Iran, and China, made diplomatic overtures to Kabul through informal channels. A Game of Optics Beyond the structural factors motivating Moscow's engagement with the Taliban, the Kremlin seems to convey a broader message regarding the shift towards multipolarity in the world, where regime legitimacy is no longer rooted in liberal democratic norms. This initiative can be interpreted as part of a larger resistance against the Western approach of normative universalism. It is an opportune time, as under Trump's leadership, marked by his transactional foreign policy approach, the American liberal agenda has been relegated to the back burner. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Simmering Tension in West Asia A more far-fetched explanation for this move could be that it is a proactive step on the part of Russia amidst the unravelling of the West Asian regional order. Russia has already lost a regional ally in Bashar al-Assad in Syria. In the recent conflict between Iran and Israel, Russia could not help Iran as much as was expected. For Israel, Iran's nuclear question has not been settled and can be a flashpoint between Iran and Israel/the US, for which Russia, in the present geopolitical context, can do little for its ally, Iran. A regime change in Iran can further upend the regional order in the West's favour. A favourable balance of power in broader West Asia is vital for Moscow's security and economic interests. The US's design of regime change in Iran, which involves Russia and China and undermines Russian influence over Central Asia, necessitates an astute reading of the evolving situation. It demands proactive engagement with countries like India, Uzbekistan, and other neighbouring powers. In essence, many factors could undergird the Russian strategic gambit in Afghanistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How should India react? India should approach Russia's recognition of the Taliban with careful pragmatism, rather than simply mirroring Moscow's actions. A more effective strategy involves increasing engagement through diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian channels while avoiding formal acknowledgement. This approach allows India to protect its interests in Afghanistan, counterbalance competing influences, and maintain the flexibility needed for future policy adaptations as circumstances evolve. The most suitable course of action is to deepen involvement through various channels while stopping short of formal recognition. This strategy enables India to safeguard its interests, counter rival influences, and stay adaptable to future policy shifts based on changing conditions. It is important for India to see Russia's recognition not as a direct template to follow but as part of a wider regional change that presents both opportunities and challenges for its policy in Afghanistan. By practicing strategic patience in its engagement, India can achieve its goals in Afghanistan while preserving its principled stances and maintaining relationships with other partners. India's response should be carefully calibrated to maximise strategic advantages while minimising diplomatic repercussions, ensuring that any engagement aligns with its long-term objectives in regional stability, counter-terrorism, and economic ties to Central Asia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Given the fragile security landscape and many competing forces vying for influence in Kabul, placing exclusive bets on the Taliban, which has yet to prove its authority across the length and breadth of the country, would be strategically unwise. In the current scenario, a people-centric engagement policy that keeps informal diplomatic channels open and working is the most prudent framework. Amitabh Singh teaches at the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Ankur is a doctoral candidate at the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
Euronews
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Germany deports 81 Afghans under tougher migration policy
Germany deported 81 Afghanistan nationals to their country of origin on Friday, marking the second such operation since the Taliban seized power in 2021 and the first under Chancellor Friedrich Merz's new government, which has promised a firmer stance on immigration. In a statement, the Interior Ministry confirmed that the men, all of whom had previously come to the attention of judicial authorities, were returned on a flight organised in cooperation with Qatar. 'These are Afghan men who are legally required to leave the country and who have a criminal record,' the ministry said, according to local media. Each deportee was issued up to €1,000 in financial support, as German courts can block removals if returnees face destitution. Critics are sceptical about deportations to Afghanistan due to the threat of human rights violations in the country. "Afghanistan is not safe," says the Pro Asyl website. The Federal Foreign Office also warns of systematic human rights violations in Afghanistan, for example through "torture, extrajudicial killings, corporal punishment and public executions". Over 10 months ago, Germany resumed deportations to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan after a pause, with then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledging a more assertive approach to removals. His successor, Merz, placed stricter migration controls at the centre of his February election campaign and moved quickly to implement them after taking office in May. These included enhanced border checks and the suspension of family reunification for many migrants. Asylum applications in the country decreased from 329,120 in 2023 to 229,751 in 2024, with the numbers continuing to decline this year. "These figures clearly show we're on the right track, but we're not there yet," Merz said. Although Merz said Germany doesn't recognise the Taliban, ties have not been formally severed. 'The decisive question is how one deals with this regime, and it will remain in technical coordination until further notice," he added. Friday's flight comes just hours before German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is set to host a high-level meeting with counterparts from France, Poland, Austria, Denmark and the Czech Republic, and the EU's migration commissioner, Magnus Brunner. The summit, taking place atop Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze, aims to coordinate responses to migration challenges across Europe.
India Today
08-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Islamic extremists building a base next to India?
Bangladesh finds itself teetering on the edge of religious extremism following the dramatic fall of Sheikh Hasina's government. What began as student protests against the quota system has spiralled into a crisis that threatens to transform the nation into a theocratic state. The chaos erupted when widespread demonstrations against perceived nepotism and state favouritism in the job quota system gained momentum under the "Students Against Discrimination" banner. As clashes with security forces intensified and casualties mounted, Hasina's grip on power crumbled. Her hasty departure to India left a dangerous political vacuum that extremist groups have been quick to Central to this unfolding drama is Jamaat-Char Monai, a hardline Islamist organisation rooted in Islami Andolan Bangladesh. Led by Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, the group has openly declared its intention to remake Bangladesh in the image of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. In a chilling July 2025 interview, Karim promised the implementation of Sharia law, the purging of secularism, and claimed that minorities would have "rights"—but only under Islamic interim government under Muhammad Yunus has struggled to maintain control, whilst minorities face mounting violence. According to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, over 2,000 incidents of attacks on minorities occurred in just 16 days following Hasina's departure. Hindu temples have been torched, businesses looted, and families terrorised by emboldened radical India, this isn't merely a neighbouring crisis—it's a security nightmare. The 4,096-kilometre border with Bangladesh has become a frontline for counter-radicalisation efforts. Indian agencies have detected increased chatter from extremist groups attempting to radicalise youth in West Bengal and Assam. The Border Security Force has responded by deploying surveillance drones, tightening fencing, and increasing situation is further complicated by reports of Pakistan's ISI embedding itself in the chaos, allegedly training Bangladeshi youth and supplying arms to build anti-India networks. New Delhi faces an impossible choice: engage with a radicalising Bangladesh and risk legitimising extremists, or isolate Dhaka and potentially push it further into Islamist Bangladesh edges towards theocratic rule, the implications extend far beyond its borders, threatening regional stability and India's security interests.- Ends
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First Post
07-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Radical Islamist group vows ‘Afghanistan-style' Sharia rule in Bangladesh
The radical Islamist group Jamaat-Char Monai has publicly declared its intent to reshape Bangladesh along the lines of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, with its leader saying that the imposition of Sharia law is part of the group's agenda, according to a report read more The radical Islamist group Jamaat-Char Monai has publicly declared its intention to reshape Bangladesh along the lines of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, with its leader saying that the imposition of Sharia law is part of the group's agenda. According to a Times of India report, in a July 1 interview with Khaled Muhiuddin, a US-based Bangladeshi journalist and editor-in-chief of Thikana News, Char Monai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim said, 'If govt is formed by winning the national election, the Islamic Movement Bangladesh will introduce Sharia law in the country.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The current governance system of Afghanistan will be followed,' he said. 'If we come to power, Hindus will also get rights in Sharia law that we will introduce. The rights of minorities will also be implemented,' Karim was quoted as saying. He also said that 'good things' of the US, the UK and Russia that do not conflict with Sharia will be accepted. Meanwhile, Bangladesh's Awami League party sharply slammed the interim government's silence on the matter, questioning whether it stems from 'negligence or deliberate complicity.' Raising alarm over rising violence and sectarian attacks, the party asked whether the assaults on temples, disruption of religious practices, targeting of women, and erosion of secular values reflect the true intentions of the so-called 'July Movement.' Since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August last year, Bangladesh has seen a spike in extremist activity. Under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, radical groups have increasingly resorted to violence and provocation, particularly against minority communities. Analysts suggest that these radical forces may have collaborated with student leaders and Yunus in the movement to topple the elected Awami League government. In a press conference on Tuesday, the Awami League presented alarming statistics on human rights violations, accusing the interim administration of plunging the country into a state of 'brutal anarchy.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The party described Bangladesh as a 'blood-stained nation' under the Yunus-led regime, citing a breakdown in safety, justice, and leadership. According to data shared by the party, 63 cases of rape were reported in June alone, including 17 gang rapes. Among the survivors were seven women and girls with disabilities. Additionally, 19 children and 23 teenage girls were raped. The month also saw 39 cases of sexual harassment and 51 physical assaults on women. With inputs from agencies
Miami Herald
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Russia formally recognizes Taliban government in Afghanistan
Russia has formally recognized the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, almost four years after the controversial regime came to power, according to a statement issued by Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Russia is the first country to offer recognition to the Taliban government that took over following the U.S.'s rushed exit in 2021. On Thursday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko accepted the credentials of Gul Hassan, Afghanistan's new ambassador to Russia, according to the Tass news agency. Russian President Vladimir Putin has steadily built ties with the Taliban government, which has been widely shunned by the international community due to repeated human rights violations. In April, Moscow lifted a two-decade-old ban on the group after Putin in 2024 had called the Taliban an "ally" in countering terrorism. "Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on recommendation from Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an effort to show Moscow's intent to develop ties," Tass said, citing the Russian ambassador in Kabul. A handful of countries, including China and Pakistan, have accepted Taliban diplomats, though they haven't formally recognized the government. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
