04.09.2021, Moscow.
The threats to national security posed by Islamists in Afghanistan oblige Russia to get involved in ensuring security in the region, political scientist, journalist, and head of the Afghan Policy Research Center (APRC) Andrey Serenko said to Rossa Primavera News Agency on September 4.
“All measures taken [by Russia] to reduce the terrorist threat [from Islamists in Afghanistan], they are absolutely justified and justified,” Serenko said. He suggested that the Central Asian republics will now have to live frequently in counterterrorism mode, and that the involvement of counterterrorism units will be more active and on a larger scale.
Russian combat units will also take part in measures to counter terrorists in Central Asia, at least those stationed in Tajikistan, the political scientist said.
“It is possible that Moscow will use not only traditional forces, but also private military companies,” the expert specified. He recalled that such companies have shown their qualities in various regions of the world.
“Moscow will have to deal with this problem tightly and, unfortunately, there is no one to shift this work to,” Serenko noted. In his opinion, the Russians should not hope that Chinese, Iranian or other comrades will do the job of securing the region for them.
If one relies on other states to solve problems emanating from Afghanistan, “it all means risking one’s own national security very much,” the expert stressed.
“You can make friends with everyone, but you should not trust anyone with the keys to your own house. Therefore, in this case, Russia will protect both itself and its allies in Central Asia,” the orientalist explained.
According to him, politicians are likely to come up with some regional coalitions and configurations, but no coalition commitments will remove the threat.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
