Russia’s 21st Century Interests in Afghanistan

Abstract

The Russian government under Vladimir Putin has long-term geostrategic interests in Afghanistan: stability, economic development, and curbing narcotics flowing into Central Asia and thence to Russia. Moscow is in the difficult position of not wanting American forces to stay in Afghanistan but also not wanting the drawdown of forces to leave behind chaos.

Resurgent Russian Ingress in Afghanistan: Implications for Pakistan

“…His appointment as an envoy by Putin is significant for regional peace, as he played an important role in Russia's peaceful policies towards Afghanistan and Pakistan. As, Kathryn Stoner, a Stanford political scientists and senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli institute for International Studies opine that "Russia wants influence, but not ownership, in Central Asia, and ultimately in Afghanistan (Stoner 2015). "…”