Afghan resistance movement and anti-Taliban uprising forces personnel stand guard at an outpost in Kotal-e Anjuman of Paryan district in Panjshir province
“Russia should be concerned about the rise of the Taliban. The country will become a terrorist hub that will endanger Central Asia and Russia itself,” Fahim Dashty told The Moscow Times by phone from the Panjshir Valley, where his resistance group has gathered as the country’s last holdout against the Taliban.
The Panjshir region is famous for having successfully fought off invasions by Soviet forces in the Soviet-Afghan war from 1979-1989 as well as by the Taliban in the 1990s. The NRF is currently led by Ahmad Massoud, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, a powerful guerrilla commander who led the resistance against the U.S.S.R.
The Taliban militants that have captured Kabul and most of the country “will be a threat to Central Asia and the world,” Dashty warned.
Dashty was a close ally of Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was assassinated in a suicide bombing instigated by al-Qaeda and the Taliban on Sept. 9, 2001, an attack in which he was also injured. He now acts as spokesperson for the slain commander’s son, Ahmad Massoud.
Dashty’s comments to The Moscow Times come as Russia’s leadership appear to be taking an increasingly apprehensive stance toward Taliban rule and the regional instability it could bring.
Russia initially signalled it was ready to work with the Taliban as it swept across the country in recent weeks, with Moscow making use of its long-term efforts to foster communication channels with the Islamist group that is still officially a banned terrorist organization in Russia.
In the days following the fall of Kabul, Russia stressed it preferred negotiating with the Taliban over the previous U.S.-backed “puppet government” and Russia’s veteran Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised the group as “reasonable people.”
But on Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin warned of the threat posed to Russia and its Central Asian allies from terrorists that have taken refuge in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover.
"This is a direct threat to our country and our allies," Putin said.
Putin earlier urged his country to prevent an influx of refugees from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, saying militants could enter under the guise of seeking asylum.
“Who is among these refugees, how do we know?” Putin said.
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