Russia has become the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government by accepting the credentials of a new Afghan ambassador, marking a significant diplomatic shift.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated it sees promising prospects for cooperation with Kabul, particularly in areas such as security, counter-terrorism, and the fight against drug trafficking, along with trade opportunities in energy, transport, agriculture, and infrastructure.
The ministry said that official recognition of the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan could strengthen bilateral ties across various sectors. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi welcomed the move, calling it a "courageous step" and expressing hope that it would inspire others to follow suit.
While no other nation has formally recognised the Taliban since they seized power in August 2021 following the U.S.-led withdrawal, countries such as China, the UAE, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan have appointed ambassadors to Kabul, steps seen as moves toward formal recognition.
Russia's decision represents a diplomatic breakthrough for the Taliban as they continue efforts to end their global isolation. The development is expected to attract attention from the United States, which has frozen Afghanistan's central bank assets and imposed sanctions on Taliban leaders, leaving the country's financial system largely disconnected from global markets.
Russia has steadily expanded its relationship with the Taliban, which President Vladimir Putin described last year as a partner in counter-terrorism. Since 2022, Afghanistan has imported oil, gas, and wheat from Russia. Though the Taliban was previously banned in Russia as a terrorist group in 2003, Moscow lifted the ban in April 2025, citing the necessity of cooperation amid regional security threats posed by Islamist militant groups.
A major motivator for this shift is growing concern over regional extremism, particularly following the March 2024 terrorist attack in Moscow that left 149 people dead. The attack was claimed by Islamic State, and U.S. intelligence pointed to the Afghan-based ISIS-K group as responsible. The Taliban has vowed to eliminate Islamic State (IS) presence in Afghanistan.
Despite the diplomatic progress, Western nations continue to condition formal recognition on human rights improvements, particularly concerning women's rights. The Taliban has banned girls and women from secondary and higher education and imposed travel restrictions without a male escort, asserting that their policies align with their interpretation of Islamic law.
Russia's engagement comes despite its own turbulent history in Afghanistan, where the Soviet Union fought a bloody war from 1979 to 1989 to support a communist regime. The conflict, which ended with the withdrawal of Soviet troops under Mikhail Gorbachev, cost the lives of around 15,000 Soviet soldiers and left a deep imprint on Russian foreign policy.
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