An international magazine called Al Majalla has stated in its latest analytical report that Russia has returned to Afghanistan after nearly 37 years and has signed a new defense cooperation agreement with the Taliban government focused on training and equipping Afghan forces.
According to the report, in 1989, when the last Soviet soldier crossed the “Friendship Bridge” over the Amu Darya River and left Afghanistan, few would have believed that Russia would return to the country in the decades ahead. At the time, the Soviet withdrawal was regarded as a major historical defeat for Moscow, and many analysts considered the war one of the key factors in the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The report adds that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was then a young KGB officer, viewed the Afghanistan war as one of the most humiliating episodes in Russian history. However, today, while Russia is engaged in the war in Ukraine and global attention is largely focused on Gaza and the Middle East, Moscow has been gradually re-engaging with Afghanistan.
According to the report, a new defense cooperation agreement has been signed between Russia and the Taliban, under which military training and equipment will be provided to the group. Russia is also described as the only country that has formally recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
Analysts believe that Russia seeks once again to use Afghanistan as a platform to expand its regional and Eurasian influence. In their view, Afghanistan remains a key arena of strategic competition among Russia, China, and the West.
The report also references the previous U.S. military presence, noting that just as Soviet forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989, American troops also left the country in 2021. It further states that some U.S. military and political officials still regard Afghanistan as strategically important for influence in Central Asia.
In conclusion, the report cites former CIA officer Milt Bearden, who warned that Afghanistan should not be overlooked, as its geography and political significance continue to play an important role in global power rivalries.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
