Taliban's Potential Role in Iran-Israel Conflict
A recent report by Russian newspaper Izvestia raises significant questions about the Taliban's potential involvement in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. The analysis, authored by Semyon Boykov and Anastasia Kostina, suggests that while the Taliban may express support for Iran, their actual involvement could be limited to allowing Tehran to recruit Afghan Shiite fighters for the conflict in Lebanon.
The Taliban has publicly supported the Palestinian cause, notably backing the recent attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023. This stance aligns with the sentiments expressed by Iranian officials, including Hassan Kazemi, Iran's special representative to Afghanistan, who stated that Afghanistan is considered part of the 'axis of resistance' against Israel. Kazemi emphasized that the Taliban's position reflects the Afghan people's solidarity with Palestinians.
However, the report indicates that the Taliban is unlikely to provide extensive support to Iran due to Afghanistan's ongoing political and economic crises. The country is grappling with internal challenges, including terrorism, which limits its capacity to engage in external conflicts. Nikita Mindkovich, an expert on Afghan affairs, noted that while Afghan fighters possess considerable combat experience, their involvement would likely be as volunteers rather than through organized support from the Taliban government.
Despite Iran's attempts to recruit fighters from Afghanistan, the Taliban has officially denied allowing such activities, asserting that no foreign power is permitted to conduct military operations within its borders. Nevertheless, experts suggest that the Taliban may turn a blind eye to Iran's recruitment efforts, particularly as Shiite formations in Afghanistan have been weakened over recent years due to the Taliban's disarmament initiatives.
The implications of this dynamic are complex, as any significant Iranian recruitment in Afghanistan could strain the relationship between Kabul and Tehran. Iran's strategy in its confrontation with Israel relies heavily on mobilizing regional allies, including Afghan Shiite groups, which could lead to further tensions in an already fragile geopolitical landscape.
