Why Russia Is Cooperating With the West in Afghanistan

In spite of fears that the West is exploiting UN mandated military operations in Afghanistan to secure control of vital hydro-carbon and pipeline assets in Central Asia, the Kremlin has joined the American-NATO forces in an attempt to crush the jihadists in that war-torn country. A Taliban return to power would facilitate the flow of heroin from Afghanistan to Russia; and the jihadists would promote insurgencies throughout Central Asia and use it as a pathway into Russia proper, where foreign jihadists already are encouraging armed uprisings, terrorist strikes and assassinations in the North Caucasus. As a consequence, Russia has offered modest assistance to the American-NATO military venture; for example, it has provided an air and land corridor to supply the troops in the war zone. In addition to denying the Taliban a return to power, the Kremlin hopes to be an active player in shaping Afghanistan's post-war strategic environment. In the meantime, it is encouraging NATO to give China and other powers in the region the opportunity to help pacify Afghanistan through existing institutions like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.