Russia has become the first country to officially recognise Taliban authority, which Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi describes as a “courageous” action.
On Thursday, he met with Russia’s envoy to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, in Kabul, where he officially announced his government’s intention to recognise the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Muttaqi stated that the move marked “a new phase of positive relations, mutual respect, and constructive engagement” and that it would serve as “an example” to other countries.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have sought international recognition and investment, amid accusations of increased human rights violations.
“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,” Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
It stated that Russia saw potential for “commercial and economic” cooperation in “energy, transportation, agriculture, and infrastructure” and that it would continue to assist Kabul in combating terrorism and drug trafficking.
Russia was one of the few countries that did not close its embassy in Afghanistan in 2021, stating on Telegram that “expanding the dialogue with Kabul” was vital for regional security and economic development.
In 2022, the country was also the first to sign an international commercial agreement with the Taliban, in which they committed to supply Afghanistan with oil, gas, and wheat.
According to the Russian foreign ministry, the Taliban was removed from Russia’s terrorist organisation list in April of this year in order to clear the stage for the development of a “full-fledged partnership” with Kabul.
In July last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the Taliban as an “ally” in the battle against terrorism, with representatives expected to go to Moscow for discussions as early as 2018.
The two countries have a complicated history, with the Soviet Union invading the country in 1979 and fighting a nine-year war that claimed 15,000 lives.
The decision to establish a USSR-backed administration in Kabul made the Soviets an international pariah, and they eventually withdrew from Afghanistan in February 1989.
