Russia, Central Asia and Afghanistan: “We Have Learned Our Lesson”

The change of power in Kabul has led to new instability in Central Asia. Russia and the neighboring states fear infiltration of Islamists and rising numbers of refugees. Interfering in Afghanistan is out of the question for Moscow

After the withdrawal of the Americans and other western armed forces from Afghanistan, the changed situation posed new challenges for Russia and the neighboring countries in Central Asia. Interference, let alone military engagement, is out of the question for Moscow – President Putin recently made this clear in a speech to delegates from the ruling party “United Russia”. “Of course,” Russia will not interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs or send its armed forces into a conflict in which “all is against all,” said the president. Because: “The USSR has had its own experiences with this country and we have learned our lesson.”

Putin is just as clear on the issue of refugees from Afghanistan. Refugee camps in which tens of thousands of Afghans would be permanently housed should not be set up in the neighboring Central Asian countries: “Our, shall we say, Western partners constantly raise the question of accommodating refugees in Central Asian countries before they receive visas for the United States or other countries. So you should be sent to these countries without a visa, to our neighbors, but you don’t want to take them in without a visa? “Putin asked rhetorically. The danger is too great that militant Islamists – disguised as refugees – infiltrated across the green border into Russia.

More military to the borders

Instead, Moscow is increasing its military presence in the region. Weeks ago, Russian military officials such as Commander Yevgeny Poplavsky declared that there was “a goal and an idea behind the exercises that were carried out in the territories of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Russia – to prepare our units to fend off external aggression from terrorist groups that are now emerging.” are in the neighboring states “.

Russia is currently maneuvering in Tajikistan. Further military exercises are planned in Kyrgyzstan in mid-September – there is a Russian air force base there. After the Taliban came to power, the Central Asian ex-Soviet republics ordered significantly more weapons, helicopters and border protection systems from Russia.

Uzbekistan isolates itself

Uzbekistan is relying on strict isolation and closing of the borders, despite the prospect of help with the transit of refugees who are on the foreign office’s exit list. Shortly after the visit of Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry made it clear in a statement that otherwise no refugees would be allowed into the country.

In neighboring Tajikistan, the situation in Afghanistan is also observed with concern, but is preparing to take in tens of thousands of refugees if necessary, which is also due to its own history, according to the Tajik political scientist Abdugani Mamadazimov. During the bloody civil war in Tajikistan in the 1990s, Afghanistan took in 300,000 refugees: “They took us in, helped us and gave us their last piece of bread. This must always be taken into account.”

Russia is pushing for a stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan. There had to be an international conference to rebuild the economy, said Samir Kabulov, the Russian President’s envoy to Afghanistan. The main aim is to prevent even more refugees from leaving the country for economic reasons. The countries that had soldiers in Afghanistan now have a special duty.