Russia moves to remove Taliban from terrorist list

October 05, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that a decision has been made at the highest level to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, according to TASS news agency.

This move requires further legal procedures to take effect, said Zamir Kabulov, President Vladimir Putin’s special representative on Afghanistan.

The development comes after Putin expressed support for the Taliban as an ally in combating terrorism in July.

Russia has been building ties with the Taliban since its takeover in Afghanistan in August 2021.

No country has formally recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate leadership, although China and the UAE have accepted its ambassadors. Russia added the Taliban to its terrorist list in 2003.

Removal would mark a significant step towards normalizing relations between Moscow and Kabul.

Taliban’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, welcomed recent decisions by Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to remove the group from banned lists.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized the need for pragmatic dialogue with the current Afghan government.

Lavrov praised the Taliban’s efforts to combat drug production and Islamic State, and called for return of confiscated assets to Afghanistan by the US, western acknowledgement of responsibility for post-conflict reconstruction and I increased humanitarian aid to Afghanistan

“Russia will continue sending food and essential goods to Afghanistan” Lavrov added.