MOSCOW (Kubha News) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that the Taliban are currently the “actual power” in Afghanistan and that Moscow aims to alter its approach to dealing with them. This announcement comes as the Russian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice have concluded an assessment, proposing the removal of the Taliban from the list of banned organizations.
Lavrov mentioned that the Russian government has been closely monitoring Afghanistan’s situation post-2021 and recognizes the Taliban’s control as an “objective reality.” This acknowledgment aligns with Russia’s strategic interests to change its interaction with the Taliban.
Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, highlighted that while the Taliban have made significant strides since regaining power, certain conditions still prevent Moscow from formally recognizing their government. Although Kabulov did not specify these conditions, he underscored the necessity for engagement with the Taliban: “This (removal of the Taliban from the list of banned organizations before its recognition) must be done. Without this, it would be premature to talk about recognition. Therefore, work on this issue continues. All considerations have been reported to the top leadership of Russia. We are waiting for a decision,”
Kabulov further clarified that Russia has not established any diplomatic relations with the Taliban to date. Consequently, Moscow has refrained from sending congratulatory messages to the Taliban on the 105th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Afghanistan and Russia, a gesture observed in previous years.
In April, the Russian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice began working on a proposal to reassess the Taliban’s status on the list of banned organizations and suggested its removal to the Kremlin. Additionally, the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that Moscow seeks to expand trade exchanges with Afghanistan and initiate cooperation with the Taliban in combating terrorism.
Kabulov, head of the Asia Desk at the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated on Russia’s Channel 24 that the Taliban have been relentless in their efforts to suppress ISIS, which Moscow designates as a terrorist group: “We not only hope for cooperation in various economic sectors but also aim to enhance the capacity of Afghanistan’s law enforcement institutions to effectively combat terrorist organizations,” Kabulov noted.
Following an armed attack on a concert hall in Moscow, Russia has engaged in discussions with several regional countries regarding counter-terrorism, particularly concerning ISIS. However, there have been no reports of official talks between Moscow and the Taliban on this specific issue.
While the Taliban government collaborates with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan on a plan to facilitate the export of millions of tons of Russian oil to South Asia, a Moscow delegation assured the acting Taliban Foreign Minister during a recent visit to Kabul that Russia would support the Taliban’s stance in any international forum.
Despite ongoing global criticism and internal discontent over human rights violations, particularly against women, and severe restrictions on girls’ education, the Taliban have shown no flexibility in their governance approach and continue to face calls for establishing a legitimate government.