Weeks Before Moscow Attack, Dari-Language Article In Afghan Media Examines Meeting Between Russian Ambassador And Sirajuddin Haqqani To Discuss Russian Security Concerns In Afghanistan

On March 5, 2024, weeks before the March 22, 2024 attack on the Crocus City Hall music venue in Moscow, in which approximately 144 people were killed and for which the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility, Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov met in Kabul with Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is Afghan Taliban Minister of Interior Affairs as well as being head of the Afghan Taliban’s Haqqani Network and maintaining close relations with various jihadi organizations in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s Ufuq News published the next day an article by one Hamid Ahmedi titled “Security Cooperation Between Russia And The Taliban: Why And How?” examining the meeting. According to the article, the purpose of the meeting was to convey Russia’s concerns regarding the increasing terrorism in Afghanistan and region. Ahmedi wrote: “Moscow is extremely worried about the security situation in Afghanistan and considers this situation directly caused by the strategic projects of America.” On the meeting, Ahmedi wrote: “The fact is that this meeting was held to convey Russia’s concerns about the growth of terrorism in Afghanistan and the export of extremism to Central Asia… Russia is worried and expresses this concern clearly, and Zhirnov’s meeting with Haqqani was held for the same purpose.”[1]

Following are translations of excerpts from the article:

“The Russians Know Very Well That Handing Over The Advanced Weapons Of NATO And America To The Taliban Was Not A Mistake Due To The Defeat In The 20-Year War – Those Weapons Were Never ‘War Booty’ Won By The Taliban”

“The Taliban government’s Interior Ministry has announced a meeting of its Acting Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani with the Russian Ambassador in Kabul Dmitry Zhirnov. Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Matin Qane, said that Haqqani called for ‘creating more security cooperation’ in a conversation with the Russian ambassador. He also said that the two sides discussed the development of bilateral relations, and the situation in Afghanistan and the region.

“Russia sees the situation in Afghanistan as a threat to its allies in Central Asia. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu recently said that the situation in the Central Asian countries is still complicated due to the threats from Afghanistan. He said that ISIS seeks to spread radical ideas in Central Asia and carries out subversive activities along the southern borders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. From the point of view of Russian authorities, the north of Afghanistan is a threat to the countries of Central Asia.

“Previously, Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of the Security Council of Russia, also said that there are 20 terrorist organizations with 23,000 militants in Afghanistan. These positions show that the Taliban’s rule over Afghanistan is not an opportunity for Moscow; rather, it is a threat – an immediate and direct threat that increases and strengthens as much as it continues and becomes more difficult to control.

“This is so while America and NATO have left Afghanistan, and it is not thought that they will again occupy this country and establish permanent military bases and intelligence centers in Afghanistan to monitor China, Russia, and Iran. So, despite the withdrawal of U.S.-led Western forces, why are the Russians still worried and why do they see the situation in Afghanistan as a threat to themselves and their strategic allies in the region?

“The fact is that Russia… based on the data and information received, knows very well that the Doha Agreement did not mean the end of the American occupation of Afghanistan, nor did it necessarily indicate the undisputed and real victory of the Taliban and Afghanistan’s achievement of ‘independence.’

“Therefore, the Russians know very well that handing over the advanced weapons of NATO and America to the Taliban was not a mistake due to the defeat in the 20-year war. Those weapons were never ‘war booty’ won by the Taliban; rather, those were handed over directly and intentionally and based on a secret agreement and collusion. just as the power, government and territory of Afghanistan were handed over to the Taliban.

“This was only one aspect of the Doha Agreement. Another consequence of this agreement was the return and revival of terrorism in Afghanistan in order to export it to the countries of the region. This project is being carried out quickly and the Americans are also helping to realize it with intensive negotiations, continuous consultations and continuous injection of money to the Taliban.”

“Sirajuddin Haqqani Is Considered The Most Powerful, Mysterious, And The Most Secret Figure Of The Taliban Government; He Is Mentioned As The Link Between The Powerful Terrorist Groups And The Taliban And The Haqqani Network”

“Accordingly, Moscow is extremely worried about the security situation in Afghanistan and considers this situation directly caused by the strategic projects of America and the domination of the Taliban in Afghanistan as a geopolitical game by Washington.

“In the meantime, the meeting of Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov with Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting interior minister of the Taliban and the leader of the powerful Haqqani Network, took place in a very sensitive and critical situation. This meeting was held right after Russian senior security and military officials expressed their opinions, positions, and concerns about the growth of terrorism in Afghanistan and the resulting threats to the security of Central Asia.

“Sirajuddin Haqqani is considered the most powerful, mysterious, and the most secret figure of the Taliban government. He is mentioned as the link between the powerful terrorist groups and the Taliban and the Haqqani Network, and he is also considered a trusted partner of the U.S. and Pakistan.

“The meeting of the Russian ambassador in Kabul with such a person is very meaningful and has a message: it shows that Russia wants to share its security concerns with someone who is believed to be responsible for the implementation of the project of developing terrorism in Afghanistan and laying the groundwork for the export of extremist ideas to Central Asia and the region.

“In this way, although the Taliban spokesmen stated that the purpose of the meeting between Sirajuddin Haqqani and Dmitry Zhirnov was to discuss ‘security cooperation’ between Russia and the Taliban, the fact is that this meeting was held to convey Russia’s concerns about the growth of terrorism in Afghanistan and the export of extremism to Central Asia, and the choice of Sirajuddin Haqqani for this matter was very calculated, accurate, and correct.

“Therefore, it would be optimistic to imagine that the Russians’ purpose for this meeting for was to announce their readiness to repair Russian military equipment, take care of Russian-made military and security infrastructure in Afghanistan, or train the Taliban militias. Russia is worried and expresses this concern clearly, and Zhirnov’s meeting with Haqqani was held for the same purpose…”

[1] Ufuqnews.com (Afghanistan), March 6, 2024.