Russia becomes first country to recognise Taliban's rule in Afghanistan
The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed it had accepted credentials from Afghanistan's newly appointed Ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan. The ministry stated that this official recognition would foster "productive bilateral cooperation".
Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry hailed the development as a "historic step". Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was quoted welcoming the decision as "a good example for other countries."
The Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces. Since then, the group has sought international recognition while imposing its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
While no country had formally recognized the Taliban administration until now, the group had engaged in high-level talks with many nations and established some diplomatic ties with countries including China and the United Arab Emirates.
Still, the Taliban government has been relatively isolated on the world stage, largely over its restrictions on women.
Although the Taliban initially promised a more moderate rule than during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001, it started to enforce restrictions on women and girls soon after the 2021 takeover. Women are barred from most jobs and public places, including parks, baths and gyms, while girls are banned from education beyond sixth grade.
Russian officials have recently been emphasizing the need to engage with the Taliban to help stabilize Afghanistan, and lifted a ban on the Taliban in April.
Russia 's ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, said in remarks broadcast by state Channel One television that the decision to officially recognize the Taliban government was made by President Vladimir Putin on advice from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Zhirnov said the decision proves Russia's 'sincere striving for the development of full-fledged relations with Afghanistan.'
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"No matter how the internal or external situation changes in Afghanistan, diplomatic relations between China and Afghanistan have never been interrupted," she said. The Taliban's soldiers have been celebrating on social media. 'The next in line to recognise the Islamic Emirate will be all the other members of BRICS, InshaAllah. Cry, enemies!' said a Taliban supporter on X, referring to Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa's coalition. Russia's decision 'would pave a clearer way for China at least to officially recognise the government in Kabul', said Kabir Taneja, deputy director and fellow at Strategic Studies Programme at the ORF in New Delhi. 'Others may still be wary. For Russia, this may have been expedited due to the Ukraine war and the ISKP-led terror attack in Moscow in April 2024.' The Middle East will be a 'little more sceptical', he told The Independent. 'However, it is possible that normalisation of Ahmed Al Sharaa in Syria will pave an easier path more specifically for Arab powers to normalise the Taliban as well,' Mr Taneja said, referring to Syria's president – a former al-Qaeda militant. Senior authorities on Afghanistan, however, continued to warn against the risk of colluding with the Taliban at the expense of Afghanistan's women and girls. David Loyn, author of The Long War and a senior expert on Afghanistan, cautioned: 'There is no plan as to how to move forward to save Afghan women. 'The best thing from this could be if the US and other Western countries sat up and took notice that Russia is cozying up to the Taliban, who harbour al-Qaeda and run a terrorist state,' Mr Loyn told The Independent. 'And we know what happens when Afghanistan is ignored. The consequences were 9/11,' Mr Loyn warned.
