Russia Becomes First Nation to Recognise Taliban Rule in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's Taliban government said on Thursday Russia had become the first nation to recognise its rule.

The announcement came after Aghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met the Russian ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, in Kabul on Thursday.

"This brave decision will be an example for others... Now that the process of recognition has started, Russia was ahead of everyone," Muttaqi said in a video posted on X.

"We believe that the act of official recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will boost the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in several areas," Russia's foreign ministry shared on the Telegram app.

Russia to help Taliban tackle terrorism, drug-trafficking

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said it would help Kabul tackle terrorism and drug-trafficking, while also boosting economic cooperation.

"The move signals that strategic interests will always outweigh human rights and international law," said Mariam Solaimankhil, a former member of Afghanistan's parliament and critic of the Taliban.

Afghanistan has seen decades of instability, including a 20-year war conducted by the US and other forces. This ended when the US withdrew its troops in 2021.

The Taliban grabbed back power in 2021 after ousting the government and have since then imposed strict Islamic law.

Moscow had earlier removed the Taliban from their list of terrorist organisations, and accepted an ambassador from their government.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2024 referred to the Taliban as "allies in the fight against terrorism."

They previously ruled the country during 1996-2001, when they were only recognised by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirate and Pakistan.

During this stint, some states such as China and Pakistan have accepted Taliban ambassadors without officially recognising the Islamic Emirate, as the country is officially known.

The Taliban government has clamped down on civil liberties of Afghans, especially on women and girls for which they have received international condemnation.

This article first appeared on DW.

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