Latest news with #ZamirKabulov
Russia Today
a day ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Moscow explains recognition of Taliban
Russia officially recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan to formalize expanding cooperation between the two countries and move toward full-scale political engagement, Russia's presidential envoy to the Central Asian country, Zamir Kabulov, told RT on Friday. Moscow became the first major power to establish formal diplomatic ties with the Islamist government this week following the presentation of credentials by a new Afghan ambassador in the Russian capital. Kabulov said maintaining a close partnership had become important after it became clear that the current government in Kabul was 'doing its best to cope' with terrorism and drug trafficking. He noted that economic cooperation with Afghanistan had already begun, but to make it 'legally complete' Moscow needed to recognize the government de jure. 'Now it's time for our political interaction in full-fledged terms and conditions,' he stated. Kabulov, who previously served as Russia's ambassador to Kabul, said the Taliban have undergone a transformation since first taking power in the 1990s, when the group stood for global jihad. 'This time, Taliban came into power as a national [movement],' which is focused all its efforts on domestic interests, he said. The Taliban returned to power in August 2021 following a chaotic withdrawal by US and NATO forces from Afghanistan. It renamed the country the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. In April, the Russian Supreme Court removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations. On Thursday, Kabulov confirmed to the media that Moscow now officially recognized the Taliban government. The envoy noted that Taliban representatives have attended economic forums in Russia as the two sides explore cooperation in investment and natural resource development. Afghanistan's geographic position offers potential as an 'important economic and logistic hub for the big Eurasian continent,' Kabulov said. Although the Taliban government remains unrecognized by most of the international community, several regional powers have renewed contacts with it. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi welcomed Moscow's move, writing on X that 'Russia was ahead of everyone.'
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Moscow explains Taliban recognition
Russia officially recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan to formalize expanding cooperation between the two countries and move toward full-scale political engagement, Russia's presidential envoy to the Central Asian country, Zamir Kabulov, told RT on Friday. Moscow became the first major power to establish formal diplomatic ties with the Islamist government this week following the presentation of credentials by a new Afghan ambassador in the Russian capital. Kabulov said maintaining a close partnership had become important after it became clear that the current government in Kabul was 'doing its best to cope' with terrorism and drug trafficking. He noted that economic cooperation with Afghanistan had already begun, but to make it 'legally complete' Moscow needed to recognize the government de jure. 'Now it's time for our political interaction in full-fledged terms and conditions,' he stated. Kabulov, who previously served as Russia's ambassador to Kabul, said the Taliban have undergone a transformation since first taking power in the 1990s, when the group stood for global jihad. 'This time, Taliban came into power as a national [movement],' which is focused all its efforts on domestic interests, he said. The Taliban returned to power in August 2021 following a chaotic withdrawal by US and NATO forces from Afghanistan. It renamed the country the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. In April, the Russian Supreme Court removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations. On Thursday, Kabulov confirmed to the media that Moscow now officially recognized the Taliban government. The envoy noted that Taliban representatives have attended economic forums in Russia as the two sides explore cooperation in investment and natural resource development. Afghanistan's geographic position offers potential as an 'important economic and logistic hub for the big Eurasian continent,' Kabulov said. Although the Taliban government remains unrecognized by most of the international community, several regional powers have renewed contacts with it. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi welcomed Moscow's move, writing on X that 'Russia was ahead of everyone.'
Novaya Gazeta Europe
2 days ago
- Politics
- Novaya Gazeta Europe
Russia grants official recognition to Taliban rule in Afghanistan
Russia has officially recognised the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Vladimir Putin's Special Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov informed state-owned news agency RIA Novosti on Thursday. The Russian Foreign Ministry subsequently confirmed the news to state-owned news agency TASS. Following the announcement, the Taliban flag was raised over the Afghan Embassy in Moscow for the first time. Dmitry Zhirnov, Russia's ambassador to Kabul, said Vladimir Putin took the decision to formally recognise the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on the advice of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Speaking on state-owned propaganda channel Rossiya-1, Zhirnov said the move demonstrated 'Russia's sincere desire to establish a full-fledged partnership with Afghanistan'. The Taliban re-seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, following the departure of US troops from the country, and renamed the country the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The radical Islamist movement had spent 20 years attempting to regain control after losing power following the US invasion of the country following the 9/11 attacks of 2001. The Russian Supreme Court ruled to decriminalise the Taliban in April, following a request from the country's Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov. The Russian parliament passed legislation in December allowing the removal of a group from Russia's list of terror organisations if it had 'ceased activities aimed at promoting and supporting terrorism'. The Taliban was added to Russia's list of terrorist organisations in March 2003, based on resolutions adopted by both the UN Security Council and Russia's Supreme Court.
Epoch Times
02-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Russia Offers to Help Taliban Fight ISIS as It Eyes Natural Resources
Russia is offering to help Kabul's de facto Taliban government fight ISIS, as Moscow weighs its opportunities to grow its economic interests in Afghanistan. Zamir Kabulov, the special Russian presidential representative to Afghanistan, announced the possible partnership in an interview with the Russian state-run news agency Kabulov, who previously served as a Russian ambassador to Afghanistan, said ISIS remains a shared enemy. 'We see and appreciate the efforts that the Taliban are making in the fight against the Afghan wing of ISIS,' Kabulov said. 'This group is a common enemy for Russia and Afghanistan, and we will provide all possible assistance to the authorities of this country through specialized structures.' Since the collapse of the U.S.-backed Afghan government in the summer of 2021, the Taliban has worked to solidify its claim to power. Related Stories 10/4/2024 3/30/2025 In the process, Taliban forces have ISIS has also claimed responsibility for attacks within Russia, including the March 2024 attack on the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, in which gunmen fired into crowds of concertgoers and set off incendiary devices, killing 145 and wounding hundreds more. The Kremlin raised allegations of Ukrainian links to the Crocus City Hall attack, but has since stepped up calls for cooperation with Kabul to fight ISIS. Moscow had previously included the Taliban on its terrorist group list, but removed the designation last month, paving the way for even closer cooperation. In an April 17 When asked whether Moscow is prepared to fully recognize the Taliban government in Kabul, Kabulov said, 'Cooperation between Moscow and Kabul continues de facto.' He also said the decision to remove the Taliban from Russia's list of prohibited terror groups removes a final obstacle for a full-scale normalization of relations between Russia and Afghanistan. When asked about opportunities for Russia to expand fuel exports to Afghanistan, Kabulov said this matter and other Afghan–Russian business ties will be a major focus at the Russia–Islamic World Kazan Forum later this month. Russia could also potentially stand to gain from access to Afghanistan's deposits of rare earth metals and other mineral resources. 'There are hydrocarbons, as well as deposits of precious stones and rare earth metals,' Kubalov said. 'However, it is too early to talk about the prospects for developing specific deposits; we should wait for the results of geological surveys. 'We should not forget that lithium mining requires large volumes of water, which is not very abundant in Afghanistan.'
CNA
02-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Russia says it will help Taliban fight Islamic State in Afghanistan
Russia will help the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan fight against the Afghan branch of Islamic State, Moscow's special representative for the country was quoted as saying on Friday (May 2). Zamir Kabulov, a former Russian ambassador to Afghanistan, referred to Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) as the "common enemy" of Moscow and Kabul. "We see and appreciate the efforts that the Taliban are making in the fight against the Afghan wing of ISIS," Kabulov told the RIA state news agency in an interview. "We will provide our best assistance to the authorities of (Afghanistan) through specialised structures." No country currently recognises the Taliban government that seized power in August 2021 as US-led forces staged a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war. But in a step towards recognition, Russia last month formally removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations, to which it had been added in 2003. Kabulov's comments underscore the dramatic rapprochement in recent years between Moscow and Kabul, which President Vladimir Putin said last year was now Russia's "ally" in combating terrorism. Russia has been left reeling from multiple Islamic State-linked attacks, including the shooting of 145 people at a concert hall outside Moscow in March 2024 which was claimed by ISIS. US officials said they had intelligence indicating ISIS-K was responsible. The Taliban says it is working to wipe out the group's presence in Afghanistan. Kabulov said Moscow and Kabul were building up ties in multiple spheres and told RIA that Russia had offered to accredit an Afghan ambassador in Moscow and was waiting for Kabul's response. He said Moscow's suspension of the ban on the Taliban "finally removes all obstacles to full cooperation between our countries in various fields". "The arrival of the Afghan ambassador in Moscow will put a final end to this issue." Russia said last month it aims to strengthen trade, business and investment ties with Kabul, leveraging Afghanistan's strategic position for future energy and infrastructure projects. Kabulov said joint economic projects would be discussed at a Russia-Afghan business forum later this month in the Russian city of Kazan, naming mineral development and gas pipeline projects as possible areas of cooperation.
