What Happened: Pakistan hosted a meeting of intelligence agency chiefs from China, Russia and Iran to discuss counterterrorism efforts against the Islamic State, The Express Tribune reported July 13.
Why It Matters: The Islamic State in Afghanistan poses a transnational threat that threatens countries such as Russia, China and Iran, creating another reason for these regional powers to maintain a stake in Afghanistan.
Background: Russia and Pakistan were on opposing sides during the Soviet-Afghan war, but they are now exploring a closer security relationship to counter their shared enemy, the Islamic State.
Further Reading:
- Pakistan Finds a Friend in Russia (May 8, 2018)
- The Odd Couple: Why Iran Is Backing the Taliban (March 8, 2018)
