Afghan people have been the victims of violence and chaos since the US-led War on Terror. However, the recent support of the Eastern powers, Russia and China, has revived the country’s hope for progress and development.

The United States turned Afghanistan into a nightmare through its war crimes during the so-called War on Terror. Several incidents of violence against civilians were reported during this two-decade-long war. The US and NATO started this war under the pretense of eliminating the global threat of terrorism by the Afghan Taliban. However, many analysts around the world criticized this war. They held that it was a move to keep the US presence in the region to monitor regional powers, including Russia and China. Taliban’s takeover of Kabul after the US withdrawal from the country corroborated this stance.

The United States imposed sanctions on Afghanistan after indirectly handing over the power to the Afghan Taliban. This further weakened the country financially and socially. Many international watchdogs warned of a looming threat of a humanitarian crisis in the country, jeopardizing the lives of scores of Afghan citizens. However, the new global powers, Russia and China, extended their help to the Afghan nation to avoid the impending humanitarian crisis in the country.

China and Russia Assisting the Afghan People

In January 2024, China accepted the credentials of the Taliban representative to be appointed in Beijing. China also appointed its representative in Afghanistan. Beijing emerged as the first country in the world to offer legitimacy to the Afghan Taliban government in Afghanistan. It also held several meetings with the Taliban officials regarding regional issues, especially terrorism.

Recently, it mediated between Pakistan and Afghanistan on their bilateral issues. Due to this mediation, the two countries agreed to revive their bilateral partnership. Both countries established ambassadorial offices to strengthen their bilateral cooperation further. However, Pakistan is yet to officially declare its recognition of the Taliban government as a legitimate government in the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan.

On the other hand, Russia has taken the lead in cementing ties with Afghanistan by accepting the full-fledged ambassador of the Taliban government as a legitimate government. On July 3, 2025, Gul Hassan, an Afghan national, submitted his credentials as the representative of the Taliban government to Russia. He was received warmly by Andrey Rudenki, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister.

Moscow had already accepted the nomination of the representative of the Taliban government. However, the acceptance of a full-fledged Ambassador marks a further improvement in the bilateral relations of the two countries. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated, “We believe that the act of official recognition of the Government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in various fields.” This reflects that Russia has officially accepted the Taliban government as the legitimate authority in the country.

Regional Engagements and the Path Forward for Afghanistan

These developments have once again proved that the Eastern Bloc is the true champion of liberty, freedom, justice, and human rights. The establishment of cordial relations in Afghanistan with regional and international powers will have a positive impact on the plight of the Afghan citizens. Russia and China are the two significant and influential military, diplomatic, and economic powers of the world. Unlike the United States, they are known for their ambition of collective growth. Under the leadership of President Putin, Russia has emerged as a strong global voice against injustice and violence. President Putin is known in the Muslim world for his strong rhetoric against Israeli genocide and rising Islamophobia globally.

The regional countries are concerned about the presence of terrorist organizations like ISKP*, TTP, BLA, and Al-Qaeda* in Afghanistan. Russia and China have repeatedly informed the Taliban government about these concerns. Through diplomatic engagement, they can exert pressure on the Taliban government to restrain these groups from conducting cross-border terrorism, making the region peaceful and stable. Moreover, these two countries can help the Taliban government in rebuilding Afghanistan. Russia can also help Kabul in establishing trade ties with the Central Asian countries, a move that can revive the Afghan economy. Moreover, Afghanistan’s rare earth minerals and natural resources can also benefit Russia economically.

The establishment of cordial ties between Afghanistan and Russia, along with other regional countries, will prove mutually beneficial. They will reinstate peace, progress, and development not only in Afghanistan but in the whole region. China has already demonstrated its desire to extend the CPEC to Afghanistan. India is also engaging with the Taliban government to strengthen their bilateral ties and resolve their mutual disputes and problems.

Therefore, it would be cogent to hold that a positive attitude of the Taliban government towards the regional countries, especially on the issue of terrorism, could also result in the inclusion of Afghanistan in BRICS. The establishment of full-fledge ambassadorial relations between Afghanistan and other regional countries, especially Russia, China, and Pakistan, has once again proven to the world that the Eastern powers of the newly established multilateral world order are the only true champions of liberation, egalitarianism, and human rights.

*-banned in Russia

?bbas Hashemite – is a political observer and research analyst for regional and global geopolitical issues.  He is currently working as an independent researcher and journalist. Courtesy

https://journal-neo.su/2025/07/17/russias-role-in-reviving-afghanistan-a-shift-towards-eastern-geopolitics/