Russia To Remove Taliban From ‘Terror’ List, Sergei Lavrov Says They Are ‘Real Power’ In Afghanistan

The Russian government is set to remove the Taliban from its list of banned terrorist organisations, as reported by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti on Monday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that this decision is inspired by Kazakhstan, which removed the Taliban from its list of banned terrorist organisations last year. The Taliban has been on Russia’s list of banned terrorist organisations since 2003.
Russia building relations with the Taliban
Despite several sanctions, Russia has been continually trying to build relations with the Taliban. They have held multiple rounds of talks and have been involved in trade with Afghanistan since the organisation took over three years ago.
“They are the real power. We are not indifferent to Afghanistan. And above all, our allies in Central Asia are not indifferent,” Lavrov said.
According to state media reports, Russia has also invited Taliban leaders to its flagship Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, which was formerly seen as the foundation of Russia’s economic relations with the West.
TASS, a Russian state news agency, cited Zamir Kabulov, director of the Russian foreign ministry’s Second Asia Department, stating that Russia’s foreign and judicial ministries have reported to President Putin on the matter of lifting the Taliban ban. He added that the Afghan leaders have long been interested in buying oil goods.
Formal Recognition of the Taliban Government
The move of delisting the Taliban from the terrorist organisations list is aimed to strengthen the Russia-Afghanistan diplomatic relations. However, it won’t give a formal recognition to the Taliban led government.
The delisting would enable Moscow to decide whether to recognize the Taliban government. “Without removal of the ban on the Taliban, it will be premature to talk about recognition. Therefore, work on this issue continues.” Kabulov said.
In 2021, when United States-led forces withdrew after 20 years of war, the Taliban took over the power in Afghanistan. They have imposed an extreme type of Islamic rule that effectively prohibits women from public life.