Russia has formally recognized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, marking a shift in international diplomacy toward the Taliban-led government. The announcement was made following a meeting between the Russian ambassador in Kabul and the Afghan Foreign Ministry, according to a statement reported by TASS.
Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan, confirmed that the Russian Foreign Ministry now officially recognizes the current Afghan administration. As a symbolic gesture, the Afghan flag introduced by the Taliban was raised for the first time over the Afghan Embassy in Moscow.
“The decision to recognize Afghanistan was made by President Putin at the suggestion of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov,” said the Russian ambassador to Kabul. “This demonstrates Moscow’s intention to engage in dialogue and foster relations with the authorities in Kabul.”
The move places Russia among a small group of countries that have taken formal steps to acknowledge the Taliban government since it took power in August 2021, after the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces.
The United States has indicated a possible reassessment of its designation of the Taliban as a terrorist organization. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted during a recent congressional hearing that the review was linked to recent efforts to secure the release of American citizens detained in Afghanistan.
“This status is now being reviewed again because we have had some success in releasing some of the Americans who were detained recently,” Rubio said.
He added that Washington expects increased cooperation from the Taliban in combating terrorist organizations, including al-Qaeda.
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