Valdai Club

US policy in Afghanistan is a sore subject. First of all, it is unpleasant for the Americans themselves. Started as a counter-terrorist operation against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, which were allied with it (banned in the Russian Federation), it has gone through many stages. State building, an infrastructure hub, the creation of a democratic society, a bridgehead for the influence of "enlightened humanity" in the Middle East and much more.

In the 2000s Moscow’s policy consisted of curbing the potential threat of the terrorist groups located on Afghanistan’s territory. The policy was more than physical resistance, it also countered the export of extremist ideas and negative influences. However, in 2014-2016 Russia began to change its policy.