In a Persian-language interview with Afghanistan International, Turan Research Center Research Fellow Hussain Ehsani discussed Moscow's evolving approach to the Taliban and its broader security calculations across Central Asia and Afghanistan.
Ehsani argued that Russia increasingly sees the Taliban as a useful element in its strategy to contain ISIS-Khorasan, the regional Islamic State affiliate that Moscow regards as a direct threat to its own security and that of its Central Asian partners. Rather than confronting the Taliban, he explained, the Kremlin has chosen to engage with the group — treating it as a partner of convenience in managing the militant threat emanating from Afghanistan.
This engagement, Ehsani noted, fits into a wider Russian objective: extending Moscow's sphere of influence and its security perimeter outward from Central Asia into Afghanistan and the surrounding region. By cultivating ties with the Taliban, Russia aims to shape the security environment on its southern flank and position itself as a central actor in the region's future.
Watch the full interview on Afghanistan International.
Hussain Ehsani is a Research Fellow at the Turan Research Center.