On Thursday, Russia became the first nation to formally recognize the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan since the group took power in 2021. This recognition followed Moscow’s decision to remove the Taliban from its list of banned organizations.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that it has accepted the credentials of Afghanistan’s newly appointed ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan. In a statement, the ministry noted that official recognition will open the door for “productive bilateral cooperation.”
Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry described Russia’s move as a historic development. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi welcomed the decision, calling it “a good example for other countries.”
The Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan in August 2021 after U.S. and NATO forces withdrew. Since then, they have been seeking global recognition while implementing their strict version of Islamic law.
Until now, no country had granted formal recognition to the Taliban, although the group has held high-level talks with several nations and established some diplomatic relations with countries such as China and the United Arab Emirates.
Despite these efforts, the Taliban regime has remained largely isolated due to international criticism, particularly over its severe restrictions on women and girls. After initially promising a more moderate rule compared to their previous time in power from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban quickly began imposing bans on women’s employment, access to public spaces like parks and gyms, and girls’ education beyond grade six.
In recent months, Russian officials have highlighted the importance of engaging with the Taliban to support stability in the region. Russia had already lifted its ban on the group in April.
Dmitry Zhirnov, Russia’s ambassador to Afghanistan, stated on state television that President Vladimir Putin made the decision to recognize the Taliban following advice from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Zhirnov emphasized that the move reflects Russia’s “genuine intent to build full-fledged relations with Afghanistan.”
Also Read:
Finland Charges Senior Officers of Russia-Linked Ship Over Baltic Sea Undersea Cable Damage
EU aims to reduce Russian oil price cap and deter investment in Nord Stream pipeline
