Russia scraps Taliban's 'terror' label amid warming ties
MOSCOW — Russia's Supreme Court on Thursday removed the Taliban's designation as a "terrorist organisation", a symbolic gesture aimed at building friendly ties with Afghanistan's de facto rulers.
The Islamist group seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, when American forces supporting the country's internationally recognised government pulled out.
Moscow, which called the US withdrawal a "failure", has taken steps to normalise relations with the Taliban authorities since then, seeing them as a potential economic partner and ally in fighting terrorism.
"The previously established ban on the activities of the Taliban, included on the unified federal list of organisations recognised as terrorist, has been suspended," Supreme Court Judge Oleg Nefedov said in a ruling, according to the TASS state news agency.
"The decision enters into legal force immediately," he added.
Russia's Prosecutor General asked the court to remove the group's "terrorist" designation last month, following several trips to Russia by top Taliban officials.
A Taliban delegation attended Russia's flagship economic forum in Saint Petersburg in 2022 and in 2024, and the group's top diplomat met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow last October.
The decision to suspend the label does not amount to formal recognition for the Taliban authorities, which are seeking international legitimacy.
But it helps avoid embarrassment for Russian officials meeting representatives from the militant group at high-profile events.
Shifting attitudes
Moscow's attitude toward the Taliban has shifted drastically over the last two decades.
The group was formed in 1994 during the Afghan Civil War, largely by former Mujahideen fighters who battled the Soviet Union during the 1980s.
The Soviet-Afghan war, which left thousands of young Soviet men dead and wounded, resulted in a stinging defeat for Moscow that hastened the demise of the USSR.
Moscow put the Taliban on its terrorist blacklist in 2003 over its support for separatists in the North Caucasus.
But the Taliban's return to power in 2021 has forced Russia and other countries in the region to change tack as they compete for influence.
Russia was the first country to open a business representative office in Kabul after the Taliban takeover, and has announced plans to use Afghanistan as a transit hub for gas heading to Southeast Asia.
In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Taliban "allies in the fight against terrorism".
Both Russia and the Taliban authorities have been trying to eradicate Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), an Islamist group responsible for deadly attacks in both Afghanistan and Russia, including an attack on a Moscow concert hall in March 2024 that killed 145.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Roya News
5 hours ago
- Roya News
VIDEO: Palestine Action activists sabotage UK military aircrafts in protest over Gaza operations
Two military aircraft at RAF Brize Norton, the UK's largest airbase, have been put out of service after being targeted by members of Palestine Action in a direct action aimed at disrupting British involvement in military operations in Gaza and across the region. According to a statement from the activist group, two individuals breached the high-security facility using electric scooters to quickly reach two Airbus Voyager aircraft. Once on site, they sprayed red paint, symbolizing Palestinian blood, into the aircrafts' turbine engines using modified fire extinguishers and caused further damage to the planes with crowbars. Additional paint was sprayed across the runway, and a Palestinian flag was left behind. The activists reportedly left the scene undetected and have not been apprehended. RAF Brize Norton plays a central role in Britain's global military logistics, including daily flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Akrotiri is widely reported to serve as a launch point for UK and allied military operations in the Middle East, including support missions for 'Israeli' operations in Gaza. In recent months, Akrotiri has reportedly facilitated hundreds of hours of reconnaissance flights over Gaza. Activists also allege that the base serves as a hub for transferring US and UK military cargo to 'Israel'. The aircraft, Airbus Voyager jets, are capable of refueling British, American, and Israeli fighter jets mid-air and transporting military cargo. The same type of aircraft has previously supported bombing missions in Yemen. In addition, Airbus Atlas transport aircraft, also based at Brize Norton, have reportedly been used to move soldiers and military hardware from Akrotiri to Tel Aviv during the current conflict. Palestine Action points to these logistics as evidence of what it calls Britain's 'active participation' in military actions across the region. A spokesperson for the group said, 'Despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets. Britain isn't just complicit, it's an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East."
Roya News
13 hours ago
- Roya News
US intelligence believes Iran still undecided on building nuclear bomb: report
US intelligence agencies continue to assess that Iran has not yet decided to build a nuclear weapon, despite possessing enough enriched uranium to do so – according to senior officials cited by the New York Times. This assessment remains unchanged since March, even as 'Israel' steps up attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. Senior officials caution that Iran may pivot toward bomb production if provoked by military action against key sites like Fordo or in the event of the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The debate over Iran's nuclear intentions has reignited amid pressure from hawkish voices in the US and 'Israel'. CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly told the White House that Iran is nearing the technical threshold for a weapon. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt echoed this, saying Iran needs only a political decision to begin building a bomb, which could take as little as two weeks. Some US officials cite 'Israeli' intelligence, particularly Mossad's estimate that Iran is just 15 days away from producing a bomb. However, others within the American intelligence community challenge that timeline, maintaining that Iran would likely need several months to a year to complete a functional weapon Officials also note that no new intelligence has been collected, only new interpretations of existing data – said the NYT report. Iran's current uranium stockpile, enriched to 60%, must reach 90% purity to become weapons-grade. Beyond that, Iran would need to assemble and potentially miniaturize a bomb for missile deployment. While Iran has the technical capacity to build such a device, US officials say there's no clear evidence it has begun doing so. Some experts believe Iran could opt for a simpler, less advanced bomb akin to the Hiroshima-era design, which would not require missile capability. Despite these assessments, concerns persist. General Michael E. Kurilla told Congress that Iran could produce enough weapons-grade uranium for one bomb in a week, and enough for 10 bombs within three weeks. Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard has warned that Iran's uranium stockpile is at an unprecedented level for a non-nuclear state.
Roya News
18 hours ago
- Roya News
Xi calls for urgent ceasefire in Middle East
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire in the Middle East, warning that the escalating conflict poses a serious threat to regional and global stability. Xi made the remarks during a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which the two leaders discussed the rapidly deteriorating situation in the region. Calling the current Middle East crisis 'highly perilous,' Xi said it reflects a broader global shift toward instability and transformation. He warned that continued escalation would cause greater suffering for those directly involved and could severely impact neighboring countries. Xi stressed that the use of force is not a legitimate method for resolving international disputes, as it only fuels hatred and confrontation. He urged all parties, especially 'Israel', to halt military operations immediately to prevent further escalation and regional spillover. Ensuring the safety of civilians must be the top priority, Xi said, adding that the red line of civilian protection must never be crossed, and the indiscriminate use of force is unacceptable. He called on all parties to adhere to international law, avoid harming civilians, and facilitate the safe evacuation of foreign nationals. Reaffirming China's commitment to peaceful resolution, Xi said dialogue and negotiation are the only viable paths toward long-term peace. He also underscored the need to return to a political solution regarding Iran's nuclear issue. Xi called on the international community, particularly influential powers, to take responsible steps to ease tensions, and urged the UN Security Council to play a more active role in promoting peace. China, he added, is ready to work with all parties to promote dialogue, uphold justice, and contribute constructively to restoring peace in the Middle East. Russian President Vladimir Putin echoed Xi's concerns, stating that 'Israel's' strike on Iranian nuclear facilities was "extremely dangerous." He emphasized that no one stands to gain from continued escalation and called for a diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue. Putin also stressed the importance of protecting foreign nationals caught in the conflict and expressed Russia's readiness to coordinate closely with China to help reduce tensions and maintain regional stability.
