Russia provides support to Central Asian defense order

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 30 Aug 2021 by Alex Teddy
On August 26 it was reported that Russia has had orders for weapons and helicopters from Central Asian countries. The former Soviet republics in that region are apprehensive as the Taliban has taken over Afghanistan. The Taliban has taken possession of hundreds of tanks, APCs, artillery pieces and choppers left behind by the fleeing Afghan National Army.ISIS-K's bombing of Kabul Airport and rocket attacks on the US Military there have made Central Asia jittery. Even if the Taliban has peaceful intentions towards Central Asia, ISIS-K does not. When Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989 its foe - the mujahideen - quickly broke up into warring factions. Now that the Taliban no longer has a common enemy it too might split up into hostile factions. The Taliban's fissiparous. Its leadership is thought to have limited control over its fighters who do not even wear uniforms. The question is: how separate are the Taliban and ISIS-K? Rosoboronexport is set to do a booming trade with Central Asia. Nevertheless, Moscow has praised the Taliban effusively. This charm offensive is an effort to create a civilized relationship with a movement that is still officially classified as a terrorist organization in Russia. The Taliban underscores that it shall never interfere in former Soviet republics. But Moscow remembers 1992, when the Taliban invaded Tajikistan and engendered a very bloody 5-year civil war. Tajikistan is particularly vulnerable. It has only 9,000 soldiers. Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are also worried. Kyrgyzstan does not border Afghanistan but it is studying the situation carefully. On September 7-9 Russian troops will take part in a joint exercise with Kyrgyz t...

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