Posted on 08/15/2021 11:06:06 AM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
Often regarded as economic rivals in Central Asia, the prospect of extremist groups gaining a foothold on their doorsteps is bringing China and Russia closer together, experts say. Some suggest that a Central Asian security crisis could even prompt joint military intervention, though others suspect such a partnership might quickly revert to competition.
Over 10,000 troops from both countries are currently deployed to China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, along with a large number of artillery pieces, aircraft and armored vehicles. As part of the exercise, Chinese and Russian soldiers are rehearsing firing thousands of artillery shells at enemy targets, sending a fighter jet squadron on a joint bombing mission and launching a ground assault against hostile positions.
The worry in Beijing and Moscow is that the violence could soon reach other Central Asian countries. In another sign of growing alarm this week, Russia has also been conducting joint exercises with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan near the Tajik-Afghan border. Russian media on Wednesday said Taliban militants have seized control of Afghanistan's borders with the two Central Asian states, citing Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Reuters reported.
Both China and Russia have significant economic interests in Central Asia: Russia has actively recruited regional states for its Eurasian Economic Union trade bloc, while China has heavily invested in infrastructure projects in the region as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. But while they both want influence, the crisis in Afghanistan is pushing any disagreements to the side, according to Vasily Kashin, a senior research fellow at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Far Eastern Studies.
If the situation in Afghanistan continues to worsen, however, Kashin said Beijing and Moscow may start exploring more drastic action.
(Excerpt) Read more at asia.nikkei.com ...
Also from article:
Andrei Serenko, head of the Center for the Study of Modern Afghanistan, said that for the time being, neither the Taliban nor the government in Kabul was in a position to attain a decisive military victory. Such an unstable balance of power in Afghanistan, he argued, is conducive to cooperation between China and Russia since it presents both countries with an imminent threat: the creation of a sanctuary for extremist groups looking to target Central Asia.
“But if at some point in the near future that dynamic changes — for example, if one of the sides appears on the brink of victory or a new external actor enters the conflict — then we could see a battle for influence within Afghanistan in which Russia and China find themselves backing different factions,” Serenko said.
“Under that scenario, we could very well see a situation where Moscow and Beijing become competitors, if not rivals in a political game in Afghanistan.”
Entirely foreseeable.
Thanks Joe.
Taliban to declare ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’ soon – report:
The Taliban, who have rampaged across Afghanistan in recent days and earlier today entered the capital, Kabul, are on the verge of declaring that they have taken control of the country and that it is now the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, according to Press Association reports citing a Taliban official.
The declaration is expected to be made from the presidential palace in Kabul following the departure of Afghanistan’s president, Ashraf Ghani, earlier, who apparently fled, initially to Tajikistan. His current location is unconfirmed.
Senior Taliban commanders announced within the last two hours that they had taken control of the palace, according to news wire reports. More details and further confirmation are awaited.
Taliban are in Kabul
They are both are next door. Why were we still there?
Why would they go to China or Russia when they have already humiliated the US and they can go to Mexico and walk across our border to further the humiliation?
Because there are plenty of jihadists within Russian and Central Asian republic territory.
Thanks Dumbya and your fellow NeoCons.
China might go nuclear on Afghanistan?
We did it to them. We bought the afghan military and provided their weapons. Then they turned around and did it to us. When will we learn. Stop the military diplomacy.
If someone in America think that Russia will go fight Taliban for them then they are very wrong. Russia will do something about Taliban not earlier than they enter into south Kazakhstan. But Russia may sell bullets to anyone who want to fight with them if any.
Pretty much
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.