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The biggest and shocking news of this time is coming out from the political and strategic corridors of South Asia. Within just a year of officially recognizing the Taliban government of Afghanistan, superpower Russia has signed a major military cooperation pact with it. Experts in geopolitics believe that this growing strategic proximity between Moscow and Kabul has the potential to change the geography and equations of the entire South Asia. While on one hand Pakistan seems to be completely isolated due to this historic step, on the other hand this development has brought many new and golden strategic opportunities for India.

Grand deal made behind closed doors in Moscow, old enemies grew closer

The script of this very sensitive and high-profile defense agreement was written during the high-level meeting of the ‘International Security Forum’ held in Moscow. During this, a long conversation took place between Afghanistan’s acting Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yacob and Russian Security Council’s senior secretary Sergei Shoigu, after which both the countries signed the document on defense cooperation. Although both sides have not yet made public the fine and secret terms of this military agreement to the world, Kabul has described it as a new chapter in the future relations between the two countries. Defense Minister Yakub said immediately after the meeting that dialogue with Russia is very important for us and we want to take this historic relationship to a new level.

This entire incident is no less than a big miracle considering the history of Russia and Afghanistan. Recall that in 1979, the then Soviet Union had attacked Afghanistan and fought a bloody war for almost a decade with the Mujahideen, who later formed the Taliban. Today, in support of the same Taliban, Russian official Sergei Shoigu has taken on the Western countries (America and NATO) and strongly advocated for the immediate removal of all economic sanctions imposed on Kabul and unfreezing their funds. Russia clearly said that Western countries will have to take full responsibility for their 20 years of destruction in Afghanistan.

Why will this new Russia-Taliban alliance prove to be a game changer for India?

According to international affairs experts, this military coordination between Russia and Taliban can prove to be very favorable for India’s foreign policy and strategic interests. For a long time, Pakistan has been using its proxy agenda and influence against India on the soil of Afghanistan. In such a situation, if India’s oldest and most trusted defense partner Russia makes its strong military and diplomatic presence there, the regional equations will change completely.

India has always had a big ambition to strengthen trade and connectivity with the countries of Central Asia through the direct route through Afghanistan, bypassing its arch rival Pakistan. India’s old dream can come true with Russia’s entry into Kabul. The biggest thing is that after this agreement, the danger of Afghanistan completely going into the ‘control zone’ under the influence of Pakistan or China has been averted forever, which is a big relief for New Delhi.

Why did Pakistan feel pain in its stomach? Sleepless nights in Islamabad

This military agreement between Russia and Taliban is like directly touching Pakistan’s sore spot. Pakistan, which considers itself the ‘kingmaker’ in Afghanistan, has suddenly lost ground from under its feet. In recent times, relations between Kabul and Islamabad are going through the worst phase in history due to violent clashes on the Durand Line (border), terrorist incidents and Pakistani air strikes. Pakistan has been continuously alleging that Taliban is giving shelter to anti-Pakistan terrorists (TTP) on its soil, whereas Taliban has completely rejected these allegations and has always condemned the cowardly actions of Pakistani Army.

At the beginning of the year, tensions between the two countries reached a peak when the Pakistani Air Force carried out bombings inside the Afghan border, which the Taliban described as an attack on their sovereignty. Amidst such an extremely tense and bitter environment, if a superpower country like Russia provides military and strategic strength to the Taliban, it will completely destroy Pakistan’s remaining influence. This is the reason why the strategists of Islamabad are losing sleep due to this Russia-Taliban combination.