This statement of Putin will hurt India’s ‘number 1 enemy’, his statement regarding Taliban is sure to irritate Pakistan.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin Has once again created a stir in global geopolitics by making a big statement. In an exclusive interview to India Today Group, Putin clearly said that Taliban rule in Afghanistan is “a reality” and cannot be ignored. According to Putin, the Taliban is currently taking action against terrorist organizations and has drastically reduced opium production in the country. This statement has come at a time when Pakistan was continuously claiming that Taliban is promoting anti-Pakistan terrorism and is working at the behest of India.

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Putin’s statement has not only challenged Pakistan’s age-old narrative, but has also weakened it on the international stage. Islamabad has long been alleging that the Afghan Taliban is supporting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), providing weapons and being behind attacks in Pakistan. After this, Pakistan even called Taliban the “pawn of India”. Islamabad claimed that India’s strategy was behind the increasing instability in Afghanistan and increasing terrorist attacks in Pakistan. India had termed these allegations as complete lies and propaganda. Amidst such a tense environment, Putin’s statement is being considered a diplomatic blow for Pakistan.

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“The Taliban have established control in Kabul – and this is the truth”

Speaking on the background of Afghanistan’s decades-long civil war and instability, Putin said, “Afghanistan has been burning in the fire of civil war for decades. This is terrible. But it is also true that today the Taliban controls the whole of Afghanistan – this has to be accepted because this is the reality.” He further said that the Taliban government is actively waging operations against different terrorist groups. “The Afghan government is taking action against terrorism and against organizations like ISIL and others. We know this very well.”

The seriousness of this statement increases because Russia is now openly strengthening diplomatic relations with the Taliban. Moscow has hosted several meetings of Taliban delegations and Russia has become the first country to officially recognize the Taliban government of Afghanistan.

Huge decline in opium cultivation – Putin’s big claim

Afghanistan has long been considered the world’s largest center of illegal opium production, but Putin claimed that the Taliban had taken decisive action in the region. “Afghan authorities have significantly reduced opium production and are proactive in combating the threat of drug trafficking from within the country.” This statement goes directly against the criticism from Western countries which have been accusing the Taliban of promoting drug networks.

Diplomatic pressure increased on Pakistan

The sharpest impact of Putin’s remarks will be seen on Islamabad. There has been a huge increase in TTP attacks in Pakistan since 2022, and Pakistan was saying this was the result of the instigation of Taliban active in the Afghan region. Pakistan-Afghanistan relations have completely deteriorated since the fall of the Imran Khan government – artillery attacks on the border, cross-border airstrikes and the expulsion of millions of Afghan refugees from Pakistan – in this changed environment, Putin standing on the side of Taliban could weaken Pakistan’s diplomatic strategy.

What is Russia’s strategy indicating?

Analysts believe that Russia is viewing Afghanistan as a “gateway” to stability in Central Asia because –

• The threat of ISIS-Khorasan is continuously increasing
• Western countries’ presence in Afghanistan has ended
• The geo-strategic race for control over energy and trade routes is intensifying

In such a situation, it is in Russia’s interest to maintain contacts with the Taliban. Putin clearly said, “If we want to influence the situation in a country, it is necessary to keep in touch with the current power there – and that is what we are doing.” This statement has indicated that Russia is committed to furthering its diplomatic, security and economic relations with the Taliban.

This stance of Putin is a big turning point on the international stage. Pakistan’s narrative of calling Taliban the source of terrorism now appears to be collapsing, while Russia is openly praising Taliban’s stability and anti-terrorism actions. In such a situation, a new geopolitical structure is emerging in the Afghanistan-Pakistan-Russia triangle. It will be important to see in the coming months whether more countries move to formally recognize the Taliban. How far can Pakistan stick to its old claims and what new geopolitical balance does the India-Russia-Afghanistan equation create? It is clear that Putin’s statement has brought South Asia diplomacy to a new turn.