Taliban victory leads to mixed feelings in Central Asia

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 23 Aug 2021 by Alex Teddy
Russia has kept its embassy in Kabul open and flattered the Taliban effusively. There is schadenfreude in Moscow about the bedlam in Kabul. One politician bragged that soon pro-US Ukrainians will see the Americans abandon them.Moscow has striven to develop a working relationship with the Taliban. Thus far it has succeeded despite the Taliban's being outlawed as a terrorist organization in Russia. However, Russia is clearly anxious lest the Taliban cause Russia's near abroad to devolve into bloody chaos. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan also have functioning embassies in Kabul. They appear to have been assured by the Taliban that diplomatic immunity shall be respected. So far the Taliban is as good as its word.To date the Taliban appears to wish to demonstrate that it has turned over a new leaf. Kabul has changed hands several times in the last 100 years. This is the most peaceful occasion. Last time the Taliban took Kabul there was a saturnalia of slaughter, pillage and rape. The Taliban are said to have arrested some of those who helped NATO. But the Taliban has also permitted 30,000 people to fly out of the airport and is keeping order there. Presumably the Taliban would like acceptance by the international community. Behaving reasonably makes this more probable. Life in Kabul continues almost as normal. All women wear headscarves but many do not wear veils. Education for women continues. The Taliban allowed none of this last time it held the capital. The Taliban seems to have decided to honor its pledge to permit NATO to evacuate its Afghan assistants until August 31. The Taliban insists that this deadline shall not be extended. Since mid August several thousand Afghan ref...

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