This war is not a war of ideologies, but a war of economic interests.
Author: Dr. Farid Yunus, Professor of Middle Eastern Cultural Anthropology and Islamic Philosophy, Founder and Innovator of Islamic Democracy (California, USA)
Voice of America radio/television contributor Fauziyajan Ehsan contacted me from Washington and asked my opinion on Russia's position in removing the Taliban from its blacklist of terrorist organizations.
In this case, I turn to the science of history and this part of the history of Afghanistan to answer.
Starting from the 19th century, Afghanistan took the position of a buffer zone for Tsarist Russia and British India, and, surprisingly, this continues to this day, in the same way, although the powers have changed, the famous method of the Great Game has entered the third stage and continues.
Russia unlike the United States of America, which today replaces British India and is on the right side of the buffer zone, protects its strategic and economic interests. The second is the problem of terrorism within Russia, which by this action wants to receive a guarantee from terrorist groups.
With great power and economic interests on both sides of Afghanistan, women's rights, human rights, and other issues remain overshadowed by strategic and economic aspirations in the buffer zone.
Even though the United States responded to this Russian move, it does not have a mouth to open and blame the leftist rulers of the buffer zone, as they are accused of violating the rights of the Palestinian people, supporting Israel, and interfering in the affairs of Ukraine.
The difference between the 19th century and the 21st century in the Great Game is that back then there were only two powers fighting together like sheep to reach the warm waters or to prevent each other from reaching them.
However, today, next to the big powers are proxy powers such as Iran and Pakistan, and, in terms of ideology and financial support, Saudi Arabia. This caused the second stage of the Cold War, which was a great challenge for Afghanistan from all points of view.
If Russia is under pressure, the possibility of recognizing the Taliban is not far off. This war is not a war of ideologies, but a war of economic interests, as in the 19th century, especially when it has been proven that the mines of Afghanistan can become the largest source of world capital.
The Taliban's political method, since they came to power with the support of Pakistan and the deal with the United States of America, reinforces the new method of the Great Game, which is not in the interests of Afghanistan.
For further studies in the field of the big game, I recommend two books:
The Great Game. The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia, by Peter Hopkirk(1994),
The New Great Game. Blood and Oil in Central Asia, by Lutz Kleveman (2003).
