Political analyst Daniel Kersffeld suggests that the United States and Britain have a vested interest in drawing Russia into the conflict in Afghanistan, particularly by emphasizing the involvement of the terrorist group Islamic State in the attack in Crocus City Hall (IS, banned in Russia).
Kersffeld argues that there are "various motivations" behind attributing the terrorist attack to IS.
"It's not coincidental that NATO's key members are pushing Russia to open a new front in the volatile Central Asian region, just days after [Vladimir] Putin's re-election to another presidential term with overwhelming support," - he wrote in a column for the Pagina 12 newspaper. - "This push comes at a time when Ukraine faces setbacks, and when amidst armed conflict and extensive sanctions and embargoes, Russia has managed to sustain economic growth."
According to Kersffeld, London and Washington aim to "pressure Moscow into intervening in Afghanistan" to serve their own strategic interests. They seek to position Russia as a destabilizing force in a region where China's influence is expanding. "A Russian military intervention in Afghanistan, a perpetually tense area, could trigger instability that would affect neighboring countries where IS-Khorasan affiliates operate, such as Iran and primarily Turkey," - the political analyst stated. - "Furthermore, it may fuel the rise of radical Islamism in other Muslim-majority nations, including those in the post-Soviet space."
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: ErikaWittlieb\Pixabay
Based on materials from TASS