As India and Russia find common ground in Afghanistan, China watches shifting alliances closely
- Moscow and New Delhi have a shared interest in ensuring the Taliban keeps its promise to prevent terrorism taking root after US withdrawal
- India may also see engagement with Russia as the best way to expand its influence in Afghanistan, in theory countering rivals China and Pakistan
Ahead of a virtual leaders meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Thursday, Russia and India appear poised to set aside their differences on Afghanistan and cooperate to safeguard the region’s stability and security.
The potential realignment of alliances involving two of the security grouping’s members comes as Beijing is expected to push for a consensus at the summit on dealing with the Taliban, so it can urge the international community to ease sanctions on the Islamist group.
Besides China, Russia and India, Pakistan and the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are members of the SCO.
Afghanistan, which is heavily dependent on aid, is facing an economic and humanitarian crisis, heightening fears in Moscow and New Delhi about a protracted refugee crisis.