Russia has become the first country to formally recognise the Taliban’s government in Afghanistan since it seized power in 2021.
The move followed Moscow removing the group from its list of outlawed organisations.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that it had received credentials from Afghanistan’s newly appointed ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan.
The official recognition of the Afghan government will foster “productive bilateral cooperation”, the ministry said in a statement.
Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry called it a historic step, and quoted Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi welcoming the decision as “a good example for other countries”.
“This brave decision will be an example for others … Now that the process of recognition has started, Russia was ahead of everyone,”
Mr Muttaqi said.
He said it was “a new phase of positive relations, mutual respect, and constructive engagement”.
Taliban sweeps back to power
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces.
Since then, it has sought international recognition while also enforcing its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan flag hangs from the Afghan embassy in Moscow. (Reuters: Maxim Shemetov)
While no country formally recognised the Taliban administration until now, the group had engaged in high-level talks with many nations and established some diplomatic ties with countries including China and the United Arab Emirates.
Still, the Taliban government has been relatively isolated on the world stage, largely over its restrictions on women.
Although the Taliban initially promised a more moderate rule than during its first stint in power from 1996 to 2001, it started to enforce restrictions on women and girls soon after the 2021 takeover.
Russian court removes Afghan Taliban from list of banned terrorist groups
Women are barred from most jobs and public places, including parks, baths and gyms, while girls are banned from education beyond sixth grade.
Russian officials have recently been emphasising the need to engage with the Taliban to help stabilise Afghanistan, and lifted a ban on the Taliban in April.
In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Taliban “allies in the fight against terrorism”.
Russia’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, said Mr Putin decided to recognise the Taliban government on advice from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Mr Zhirnov said the decision proved Russia’s “sincere striving for the development of full-fledged relations with Afghanistan”.
AP/AFP