© John Moore/Getty Images
US Soldiers • Korengal Valley Outpost, Afghanistan
After war in the Caucasus and unrest in Belarus, Moscow might see Tajikistan's growing border crisis as just another conflict on its doorstep.
But the presence of the Taliban may well cement Russia's role in regional security.
Just over 22 years ago, on 15 February 1989, the last few troops of the "Limited Contingent of Soviet Troops in Afghanistan" crossed over the Bridge of Friendship linking Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, then a part of the USSR.
With that, Moscow's military campaign in the mountainous nation came to an end.
This week, fighters were once again flowing northwards out of Afghanistan, although for somewhat different reasons. As the United States wraps up its own failed military operation in Central Asia,
Taliban insurgent forces have been steadily advancing. In the past few weeks, they have
captured more than 100 districts in Afghanistan. About half the country is now in Taliban hands.
Despite billions of dollars of support from American taxpayers, many Afghan government forces now seem to be giving up the fight. On Monday, news emerged that
over 1,000 of Kabul's troops had crossed the border into neighbouring Tajikistan in order to "save their own lives."
Comment: The assassinated president's wife has been rescued:
UPDATE 7/7/2021: Shot multiple times, First Lady of Haiti Martine Moïse arrives in Florida for treatment See also: