Russia has made a significant decision to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, signaling a shift in its approach towards the group. President Vladimir Putin’s special representative on Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, highlighted that the decision was made at the highest level and will require legal procedures for implementation.
In July, Putin stated that Russia views the Taliban as an ally in the fight against terrorism. Despite the Taliban’s presence on the terrorist list since 2003, Russia has been forging ties with the group since its takeover in Afghanistan last year.
The Taliban’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, expressed appreciation for Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan’s recent decisions to delist the group. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized the importance of maintaining pragmatic dialogue with Afghanistan’s current leadership in Moscow.
Looking ahead, Lavrov called for the return of confiscated Afghan assets by the US and increased humanitarian aid to the country. Russia’s history in Afghanistan, including a past military intervention and ongoing threats from Islamist militants, underscores the complexity of its relationship with the region.
(Source: Reuters)