Moscow’s move to normalise relations with Afghanistan comes in a way of recognising Taliban’s government. Also, Russia was the first country to open a business representative office in Kabul after the Taliban takeover.
This move came after Supreme court of Russia lifted Taliban’s terrorist tag in April 2025.
Russia accepted the credentials of a new ambassador from Afghanistan as part of an ongoing drive to build friendly relations with the country.
Taliban authorities seized power in Afghanistan four years ago (August 2021) as United States troops withdrew from the country. On Thursday, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated –
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 in various fields,
Now, Russia the first country in the world to recognise the Afghanistan’s Taliban government.
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said –
This brave decision will be an example for others,
Now that the process of recognition has started, Russia was ahead of everyone.
Moscow called the US withdrawal as a “failure”, and from then steps are being taken to normalise the relations with Afghanistan. Russia also considers Taliban government as a potential economic partner and an ally in fighting against terrorism.
Earlier in 2022 and 2024, Taliban delegation attended Russia’s flagship economic forum in Saint Petersburg. In last October 2024, Afganistan’s top diplomat met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin, in July 2024 called the Taliban to fight against terrorism after Islamic State Khorasan Province, ISKP (ISIS-K) group carried out deadly attacks in Russia as well as in Afghanistan.
Over the last 2 decades, there is a drastic shift of Moscow’s attitude towards the Taliban. US-supported Mujahideen fighters battled with the Soviet Union during the 1980s which had its impact in the demise of USSR.