Russia recognizes Taliban government in Afghanistan

AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS

Russia has officially recognized the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan, becoming the first country in the world to do so since the group retook power in 2021.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the official recognition of the Afghan government would give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The move followed Russia's decision earlier this year to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, lifting a ban that had been in place since 2003, Radio Free Europe reports.

The Taliban government's acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaki, praised Russia's "courageous move" and said he hoped it would set an example for other countries.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke with Muttaki during his visit to Russia in October last year.

Many Western countries are reluctant to work directly with the Taliban government because of concerns about human rights abuses, including a ban on girls' education beyond primary school.