The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Andrey Rudenko, has stated that it is still too soon to discuss officially recognising the Taliban as a legitimate government.
However, he indicated that removing the Taliban from Russia’s list of terrorist organisations could serve as a step towards broader engagement, particularly in economic cooperation.
Rudenko emphasised that the proposal to delist the Taliban remains under active consideration. He noted that over the past three years, the Taliban have demonstrated an intention to build constructive relations with regional countries, including Russia.
“We have observed their efforts to combat ISIS-Khorasan, strengthen control over other terrorist groups operating within Afghanistan, and eradicate the drug trafficking threat,” Rudenko said.
The Deputy Foreign Minister added that Russia is taking measures to establish interaction with the Taliban on mutually significant issues. He explained that the Taliban have invited Russian investors to participate in several major economic projects in Afghanistan.
In October 2023, Rudenko acknowledged that removing the Taliban from the terrorist list would not be a swift process due to the need for changes in Russian legislation. Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, had previously announced in June 2023 that the proposal to delist the Taliban had been submitted to President Vladimir Putin for final approval. Kabulov noted that certain issues concerning the Taliban remain unresolved, and a decision would only be made once these matters are addressed.
During a visit to Tashkent on 8 June 2023, President Vladimir Putin remarked on the need for some level of engagement with the Taliban, despite the complexities involved. He highlighted the importance of consulting with regional partners, particularly in Central Asia, when shaping Russia’s approach to relations with the Taliban.
“We take into account the views of all our partners and allies, and we will coordinate our stance on this matter accordingly,” Putin stated.