Russia faces major risks on Afghanistan despite Kremlin claiming propaganda victory over U.S. – By Sam Meredith (CNBC) / Aug 30 2021
- “The Russians feel as though they have achieved a major triumph,” Kate Mallinson, associate fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, said during a webinar for think tank Chatham House.
- “But I would say that this kind of propaganda victory is more pyrrhic than triumphant,” Mallinson added.
- The Kremlin’s envoys have insisted the U.S. should not shift responsibility for Afghanistan’s collapse onto others and state media channels have sought to portray the departure of American troops from Afghanistan as a significant coup.
LONDON — The unfolding crisis in Afghanistan poses substantial risks to Russia and Central Asia, geopolitical experts have warned, even as the Kremlin seeks to claim a propaganda victory over the U.S.
Initially, Russia’s response to the Taliban’s insurgence appeared to celebrate the defeat of the American-backed and trained Afghan government, as well as the U.S. departure. Russia’s ambassador to Kabul, Dmitry Zhirnov, praised the Taliban’s conduct and said the group had helped to make the Afghan capital safer in the first 24 hours after the U.S. exit. This is despite Russia officially recognizing the Taliban as a terrorist organization.
“The Russians feel as though they have achieved a major triumph,” Kate Mallinson, associate fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, said during a webinar for think tank Chatham House.
“They feel they are going to reassert their influence in Central Asia,” she said, noting that Russia was likely to try to further entrench its position as the region’s key security guarantor.
