Latest news with #AfghanCivilWar
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. With Russia's Supreme Court removing a ban on the Taliban on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin has flipped 20 years of the Islamic fundamentalist group's standing with his country. The move isn't entirely unexpected, as Putin has considered Afghanistan's ruling party friendly. Putin was considering having the designation removed in 2024. But last week's move marks a ramping up of warmth between Russia and an organization feared by most democracies. The court's ruling to rescind a legal ban on the Taliban allows the group to be "removed from Russia's list of terrorist organizations," said DW. The court's decision, which came at the request of the prosecutor general, was "based on a decree Putin had issued a year ago" to remove the terrorism designation. Russian law still states that Taliban members must be arrested if they enter the country, but "no Taliban member has been detained on entering Russia since 2016," said DW. Russian media outlets had "continued to refer to the Taliban as a 'terrorist organization, banned in Russia'" but stopped doing so in 2024. It's likely because Putin and the Russians view a partnership with the Taliban-run Afghanistan as strategic. Removing the terrorist designation "opens the way to establishing a full-fledged partnership with Kabul," said Russia's Foreign Ministry in a statement. Putin "aims to build mutually beneficial ties with Afghanistan in all areas, including the fight against drugs and terrorism." The Kremlin has claimed that it will abide by international law when it comes to dealing with the Taliban. The "decision to suspend the terrorist status of the Taliban movement does not change Russia's international obligations to adhere to the U.N. Security Council sanctions regime against individuals and legal entities associated with the Taliban," according to Russian state news agency TASS. Russia hasn't officially recognized the Taliban-run Afghanistan government, but this may "lay the legal groundwork for expanded cooperation, investment and potentially future recognition," said Radio Free Europe. Putin is "eager to strengthen its influence in Central Asia amid growing competition with the West and China's expanding footprint," and Afghanistan is a "critical piece of the regional chessboard." "Ties between Moscow and Afghanistan have grown following the U.S.' 2021 exit from the country," said Bloomberg, and Taliban delegations have previously met with Russian officials. Russia is also "one of the few countries to keep its diplomatic mission in Kabul open." Russian diplomats have recently worked with Taliban officials on matters of security, economics and mining projects. The shift in relations is a big change for Russia and Afghanistan. The two countries have long had a "gradual rapprochement" following a "turbulent history dating back to the Afghan Civil War of the 1990s," said Al Jazeera. But with the parties aligned, further conflict could break out, as "shared security interests — including the fight against ISIS' regional affiliate, ISKP — have drawn Russia and the Taliban closer." The court decision is a "diplomatic victory for the Taliban," said The Associated Press. The group has also been working to spread its influence, as its delegates have "attended various forums hosted by Russia as Moscow has sought to position itself as a regional power broker."
Jordan Times
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
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.
Express Tribune
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Russia scraps Taliban's 'terror' label
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. The Taliban authorities praised the move as a "significant development in relations between Afghanistan and Russia" in a foreign ministry statement. "With this decision, the only remaining obstacle to further political and economic cooperation between the two countries has been removed," Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said in a meeting with Moscow's ambassador to Kabul, Dmitry Zhirnov, according to the statement. 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. 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.
Al Jazeera
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Russia's Supreme Court suspends ban on Afghanistan's Taliban
Russia's Supreme Court has suspended its ban on the Taliban, which it had designated for more than 20 years as 'a terrorist organisation'. The latest move is aimed at normalising ties with the de facto rulers of Afghanistan. Thursday's ruling – prompted by a request from the prosecutor general – is effective immediately, Judge Oleg Nefedov announced, according to Russia's Tass news agency. The move in favour of the group that seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 follows years of gradual rapprochement with Moscow, despite a turbulent history dating back to the Afghan Civil War of the 1990s. More recently, shared security interests – including the fight against ISIL (ISIS)'s regional affiliate, ISKP – have drawn Russia and the Taliban closer. Last year, President Vladimir Putin described the Taliban as an 'ally' in counterterrorism efforts, while his envoy to Kabul announced plans to delist the group. Moscow, which has hosted Taliban officials for several forums in recent years, is also looking to use Afghanistan as a transit hub for gas exports to Southeast Asia. 'Moscow will continue its course on developing political, trade and economic ties with Kabul,' Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in October last year. Other Asian countries have also improved ties with the Taliban in recent years, though no state has moved to fully recognise it. In 2023, Kazakhstan took the group, which has banned girls' education and restricted women's movement, off its list of 'terrorist organisations'. Kyrgyzstan followed suit last year. China, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran are among nations with embassies in Kabul, with Beijing becoming the first in 2023 to appoint an ambassador after the Taliban's takeover.
Khaleej Times
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Russia scraps Taliban's 'terror' label amid warming ties
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 militant 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. Other countries have also sought to foster ties with the Taliban authorities, though no state has yet moved to officially recognise them. Kazakhstan announced last year that it had removed the Taliban from its list of "terrorist organisations". In 2023, China became the first country to appoint a new ambassador to Kabul and has forged growing economic links with its new rulers.
