Russian Relation with Taliban against Pak-Afghan ISIS
By: Saifullah Mustanir

Zameer Kablov, Russian special envoy to Afghanistan, stated to Interfax News Agency that in order to cooperate against fighting with ISIS, Moscow have contacted Taliban. He added that Russia and Taliban have common interest against ISIS. He also said that to transfer intelligence information, Moscow and Taliban have established networks. 24/12/2015. In reaction to this, Afghanistan Defense Ministry said, such relation with Taliban is unacceptable. Through a press release, Taliban stated that in order to end American colonization, they have contacted several countries and will continue to do so in the future because it is their legitimate rights. However, Taliban said that in the so-called fight against ISIS, they neither need support of any countries nor they have contacted anyone or talked to anyone. This is first time a senior Russian diplomat discusses Russian-Taliban relationship officially.

Although it is clear to everyone that America didn’t just invade Afghanistan to fight against “terrorism”, rather the aim is to ensure her long term military presence in this strategic location. In order to ensure this she has signed bilateral security and strategic agreements with its puppet government in Afghanistan. It is also clear to everyone that American military is not here to sleep in these military bases, but they are here to gradually pursue their strategic goals - to sustain and expand their global hegemony and exploit existing mineral resources. One of the strategic goals of America is to encircle Russia and the other is to exploit hydro carbonic mines in the Caspian Sea.

Therefore until 2014 the prime goal of America in Afghanistan was to gain permanent bases and Russia was apparently happy with America and NATO’s role in fighting against terrorism and narcotics. Russia also managed to keep US busy in Afghanistan to the maximum extent possible. Meanwhile Russia used the opportunity to improve its large economic, industrial and military plans to strengthen its economy, industry and arms development. America, on the other hand, has achieved its prime goals in Afghanistan and now wants to pursue and achieve its regional objectives. In order to achieve this US is using the traitor regimes and systems of both Afghanistan and Pakistan to facilitate and coordinate armed groups such as Pak-Afghan ISIS in the conflict ridden areas of Afghanistan and then to extend it to destabilize the Central Asian countries.

Russia has also comprehended America’s intention accurately and with regards to this issue Russian foreign policy is very vigilant. Russian News Agency Toss, reported that on May 17th upon the instruction of Masom Stanikzai, Afghanistan interim Defense Minister, and Haneef Atmar, presidential National Security Advisor, helicopters have dropped ISIS fighters along the border of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The news agency added that on November 30th a helicopter full of weapons landed in Bala Murghab district of Badghis province to supply weapons to ISIS fighters. Moreover, Zaher Qadeer, Afghanistan Parliament Deputy Chairman, has also accused Haneef Atmar for supporting Daesh several times. He went even further and challenged the government in a general parliament session having a CD in his hand and saying that if he revealed the secrets, the current government will fall. After that on December 22nd, Zameer Kablov stated to the press: “Daesh is trying to bring Taliban under control. Daesh fighters are being transferred from Eastern to Northern provinces through Chinook helicopters, which Afghanistan army doesn’t have. Drones are also targeting those Taliban who are not cooperating with ISIS, but those Taliban who are cooperating with Daesh are not facing any problems” in Shanghai conference Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Prime Minster summoned Abdullah Abdullah to Moscow to explain the claims of some government officials about the Afghanistan Defense Ministry and National Security Advisor of supporting ISIS fighters to reach Central Asia. Abdullah Abdullah stated that he will soon travel to Russia to ensure Moscow that there is no direct threat from Afghanistan to Russia.

Finally we can say that ISIS of this area is the result of the traitor and subservient governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to implement American plans and put pressure on Taliban. Previously such effort forced in a large group of Taliban to the laps of Iran, and now Russia is claiming that it is working together with Taliban to fight against ISIS. Russia also wants to bear out its military equipment pledges with John Kerry’s government slowly for commercial benefits. It means that in fight against ISIS, Russia is relying on Taliban than on John Kerry’s government and meanwhile wants America to understand that if they are trying to threaten Russia with Pak-Afghan ISIS Group, they can also support Taliban to continue its fight against America. Once again we see that warring groups instead of establishing Islam to solve Ummah’s problem are acting as proxies of the colonialists.

* Director of the Media Office of the Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Afghanistan
* Written for Ar-Rayah Newspaper Issue 58