Russia has taken a step towards recognising the Taliban government of Afghanistan, with the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, voting in favor of a bill that could remove the Taliban from Moscow's list of banned terrorist organisations. This marks the first of three required readings for the legislation, as reported by Reuters.
The Taliban assumed power in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces after two decades of war. Although no country currently recognises the Taliban-led government, Russia has been steadily strengthening ties with the group. In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the Taliban as an ally in combating terrorism.
Moscow faces ongoing threats from Islamist militant groups across regions stretching from Afghanistan to the Middle East. In March, a terrorist attack near Moscow, which claimed 145 lives, was reportedly linked to Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), the Afghan branch of Islamic State. The Taliban, meanwhile, has claimed it is working to eliminate ISIS-K's presence in Afghanistan.
Despite these developments, international recognition of the Taliban government remains elusive. Western diplomats cite the group’s restrictive policies on women’s rights as a significant barrier. Girls and women have been barred from secondary and higher education, and restrictions on their movement without a male guardian have drawn global condemnation. The Taliban asserts that its policies align with its interpretation of Islamic law.
Russia's involvement in Afghanistan has a turbulent history. The Soviet Union invaded the country in 1979 to support a Communist government, leading to a protracted conflict with U.S.-backed mujahideen fighters. The war ended in 1989 with the withdrawal of Soviet forces, leaving behind over 15,000 Soviet casualties.
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