Russia has become the first country to officially recognize the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, marking a significant milestone in their bilateral relations. This “historic step” is expected to pave the way for stronger ties between the two nations.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the official recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will foster productive cooperation in various fields. The ministry expressed its belief that this move will give impetus to the development of bilateral cooperation.
The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the decision, hailing it as the start of a new phase of positive relations and mutual respect between the two countries. The ministry shared the announcement on social media, along with a photo from the meeting between Russian Ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi.
The decision to recognize the Taliban government comes after Russia removed the Taliban from its list of banned terrorist organizations. This move is seen as a significant shift in Russia’s stance towards the Taliban, which has been gradually building ties with the group.