MOSCOW, July4 (Alliance News): In a landmark shift, Russia has officially recognised the Taliban government in Afghanistan, making it the first country to do so since the group took control of Kabul in August 2021 following the chaotic withdrawal of US-led forces.
The decision follows Moscow’s acceptance of credentials from a newly appointed Afghan ambassador.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced the move on Thursday, expressing intent to deepen cooperation with Afghanistan in the areas of security, trade, and counter-terrorism.
The ministry stated that official recognition would foster “productive bilateral cooperation” in fields such as energy, infrastructure, transport, and agriculture. Russia also reaffirmed its support for Kabul in combating terrorism and narcotics trafficking.
“We believe that the act of official recognition of the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries,” the ministry said.
The Taliban welcomed the move, calling it “courageous.” Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said: “We value this courageous step taken by Russia, and, God willing, it will serve as an example for others as well.”
While no other country has formally recognised the Taliban-led government, China, the UAE, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan have all designated ambassadors to Kabul—signalling a soft progression toward formal diplomatic ties.
Russia’s decision marks a major milestone for the Taliban regime in its quest for international legitimacy and comes amid ongoing Western sanctions and isolation. The US continues to withhold billions in Afghan central bank assets and maintains financial sanctions that have hampered Afghanistan’s access to international financial systems.
Russia, which outlawed the Taliban as a terrorist organisation in 2003, officially lifted the ban earlier this year. Despite its past, Russia has in recent years steadily built relations with the Taliban, driven by shared concerns over Islamist militant threats, especially from groups like Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K).
Following the deadly March 2024 Moscow concert hall attack claimed by ISIS-K, Russian officials have increasingly looked to Kabul as a partner in regional security.
Afghanistan has been importing oil, gas, and wheat from Russia since 2022. President Vladimir Putin has described the Taliban as an ally in fighting terrorism, a stark contrast from the Soviet Union’s bloody occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s that resulted in over 15,000 Soviet soldier deaths.
Despite this diplomatic milestone, global recognition of the Taliban remains elusive. Western nations, in particular, continue to demand progress on human rights, especially women’s rights.
The Taliban has banned girls and women from attending high schools and universities and restricted their mobility without a male guardian. The group maintains that it governs in accordance with Islamic principles.
