Russia and China’s drive to keep the region ISIS-free
Signals concerning Afghanistan emanating from Moscow emphasise the latter’s zealous intent to help resolve the volatile Afghanistan mess. The success of these initiatives rests squarely on the active participation of Pakistan and China. Pakistan has been deeply involved in developments in Afghanistan for decades besides being the most affected by the war on terror. China’s growing military and economic clout is such that none can ignore it in the region. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan recognise the earnestness of the two major powers in bringing peace to the war torn country. The possible retreat of the ISIS fighters from Syria to the neighbouring country has galvanised the Russians and the Chinese into making these concerted moves. Moscow is amenable to holding talks with the lesser evil, the Taliban, to prevent the ISIS from regrouping in Afghanistan and eventually threatening the Russian Federation and China through the bordering Central Asian states.
Russia, we are told, will host a trilateral Russia-China-Pakistan round of talks in Moscow in December with a view to ‘establish a wider regional partnership on the issue’ noting that ‘it was in the regional stakeholders natural interests to protect themselves from terrorist spillover’.
India finds it difficult to stomach the growing relationship between Moscow, its long term ally, and Islamabad. In fact a beginning in the direction was made during the last PPP tenure with then President Pervez Musharraf’s official visit to Russia in 2009. As differences with the US increased, Pakistan’s policy makers pursued closer ties with Russia under the PML-N government also. The attempts are now taking off. Instead of contributing to the present peace efforts, the Modi government which is keen to isolate Pakistan is having sleepless nights. India and Iran were consulted but not invited to Moscow for the December talks, but they can have a positive role to play later on in the interest of all.
