This is an update article of the previous: “Nail drives out another nail”: Putin met Taliban chief for support against IS
December 24, 1979, the Soviet Union invades Afghanistan. The Red Army remained there for a decade, fighting a bloody war against the Islamic rebels, supported by the US.
Now the Russians want to return to have a weight in Afghanistan, to crush the ISIS but also to keep checkmated Nato and the United States, present in the area after the war against the Taliban. The man to whom Putin has given the task of recovering influence in Afghanistan is Zamir Kabulov Nabiyevich, Uzbek, former KGB agent. The goal is not to win back the country, but exercise influence. With a strategy similar to that adopted in Syria: occupy spaces “left uncovered by Western uncertainties”, with the Western who have not yet decided whether to disband or strengthen its presence on the ground.
The interlocutors that the Russians have chosen are the Taliban, children and grandchildren of those who fought them between 1979 and 1989. But the times have changed and now there is a common enemy, the Caliphate. Kabulov admits contacts: “Their interests coincide with ours. We have the channels open for exchange information.” For the moment, therefore, they are only at the level of information. But in war, everybody knows, those are decisive. As well as weapons. Americans believe that machineguns, grenade launchers and other sophisticated weapons have arrived from Moscow. The retaliation of the Kremlin today is materialized in this way: “They are arming the extremists – says analyst James Kitfield – who are fighting the Americans, as Americans did with those same extremists during the Soviet invasion.”
The expansionism of Russia in the area goes from Syria to Afghanistan, through Iraq and Iran. In Syria, with the war against ISIS and supporting Assad. In Iraq, rather, with trade agreements and humanitarian aid, along with contacts with the Sunni tribes of Anbar province (those who have helped the Americans in the fight against al Qaeda). With Iran, finally, in addition to the alliance (though with some disagreement) giving support to Assad’s military understanding. Russia will supply Iran with military aircraft Sukhoi SU-30 Sm. This was reported by the news agency Ria Novosti, citing a manager of Rosoboron, the Russian state agency for armaments export, according to which the agreement between the two countries will be signed later this year.
The news comes while it is being the visit to Moscow of the Iranian defense minister, General Hossein Dehqan. According to a note from the Kremlin, yesterday 16/2 Dehqan met the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Source: Il Giornale