Russia has officially welcomed a new Afghan ambassador appointed by the Taliban, becoming the first nation to officially recognize the Taliban regime since it captured Afghanistan in August 2021.
The move, which was announced Thursday by the Russian Foreign Ministry, represents a major diplomatic breakthrough for the Taliban regime, which has had difficulty securing international legitimacy. “We believe the action of official recognition of the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation,” the ministry said in an announcement.
Moscow stated it believes there exists high potential for the growth of cooperation with Kabul, especially in fields like counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics, energy, transportation, and agriculture. Moscow also made a commitment to further backing Afghanistan’s security requirements.
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi welcomed the gesture and referred to it as a “courageous step” and hoped that it would be the inspiration for other countries.
Although no state ever granted official recognition to the Taliban, a number of states, including China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and the UAE, have posted ambassadors to Kabul, which suggests increasing diplomatic activity.
Russia’s initiative arrives as the Taliban has continued to pursue relief from international sanctions and frozen funds. The US has withheld billions from the Afghan central bank and sanctioned Taliban officials on grounds of human rights issues, specifically the restriction of women and girls.
Moscow’s move comes after its gradual rapprochement with the Taliban. Last April, Russia ended its years-long ban on the group, which it had declared a terrorist organization in 2003. Afghanistan has since 2022 been importing fuel, wheat, and other products from Russia.
Russia points to a mutual interest in counterterrorism, especially following the fatal ISIS-K bombing this year in Moscow. The Taliban says it is working hard to counter the Islamic State’s presence in Afghanistan.
Although the diplomatic turn has come, Western countries are still wary, calling for reforms on women’s rights before granting recognition.