Russia becomes first country to recognise Taliban government of Afghanistan

On Thursday, Russia announced that it had accepted the credentials of Afghanistan’s new ambassador, becoming the first country to acknowledge the Taliban government.

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Moscow perceived favorable opportunities to strengthen relations and would persist in assisting Kabul in areas such as security, counter-terrorism, and the fight against drug-related crime.

“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,” the ministry said.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said in a statement: “We value this courageous step taken by Russia, and, God willing, it will serve as an example for others as well.”

No other country has formally recognised the Taliban government that seized power in August 2021 as U.S.-led forces staged a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war. However, China, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Pakistan have all designated ambassadors to Kabul, in a step towards recognition.

The Russian action signifies a significant achievement for the Taliban government as it aims to reduce its international isolation.

Washington is expected to monitor this situation closely, having frozen billions of dollars in assets from Afghanistan’s central bank and imposed sanctions on certain senior Taliban leaders, which has resulted in Afghanistan’s banking sector being largely isolated from the international financial system. Meanwhile, Russia has been steadily strengthening ties with the Taliban, which President Vladimir Putin described last year as an ally in the fight against terrorism. Since 2022, Afghanistan has brought in gas, oil, and wheat from Russia.

Russia classified the Taliban as a terrorist organization in 2003, but the prohibition was removed in April of this year. Russia recognizes the necessity to collaborate with Kabul due to significant security threats from Islamist militant organizations operating in a series of nations from Afghanistan to the Middle East.

In March 2024, attackers shot dead 149 individuals at a concert venue near Moscow in an assault attributed to Islamic State. U.S. officials stated they had information suggesting it was the Afghan division of the group, Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), that was accountable.

The Taliban claims it is striving to eliminate the existence of Islamic State in Afghanistan. Western diplomats indicate that the Taliban’s route to broader international recognition is hindered until it alters its stance on women’s rights. The Taliban has shut down high schools and universities for girls and women, imposing limitations on their mobility without a male guardian. It states that it honors women’s rights according to its stringent interpretation of Islamic law.

Russia possesses a complicated and violent history in Afghanistan. In December 1979, Soviet forces entered the nation to support a Communist regime but became entangled in a prolonged conflict with mujahideen fighters supplied by the United States.