Pressure is mounting on Russia to support the Panjshir resistance fighters battling the Taliban in the famed Panjshir valley.
Russia could be dragged into supporting the National Resistance Front in the Panjshir valley on account of Tajikistan, which is showing signs of providing material support to ethnic Tajiks which reside in the area in large numbers.
Tajikistan is a member of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), which can be invoked if Dushanbe decides to directly participate in the war.
Also read: Russia sends armoured vehicles, guns to beef up Tajikistan’s military muscle on Afghanistan border
According to the Russian publication Nezavisimaya Gazeta , Tajikistan is the only country bordering Afghanistan that has assumed an irreconcilable stance regarding the Taliban regime. It pointed out that the Tajik President Emomali Rahmon thinks that in order to resolve Afghanistan’s political problems "it is necessary to create an inclusive government with the participation of all national minorities."
Tajiks comprise around 40% of Afghanistan’s population, forming the second largest after the Pashtuns, who dominate the Taliban government.
The publication said that so far there are no reports as to whether Tajikistan is providing military support to the resistance. On September 8, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin said that the Taliban used aviation from "third countries" in its attacks on Panjshir. Social media has noted that "some planes attacked the positions of Taliban militants" and an alleged high activity of Russian military aircraft in southern Tajikistan was noted. "It is interesting whether Pakistani delegates will come to the SCO summit in Dushanbe in mid-September," military expert, retired Colonel Shamil Gareev told the newspaper.
The military analyst also said that Moscow supports its CSTO partners, including Tajikistan, yet he doubted that Moscow would go for an unofficial military cooperation with the resistance in Afghanistan. "It will all become clear at the CSTO and SCO summits that will be held in Dushanbe in a week’s time," he said.
