Russia becomes first state to recognise Afghan Taliban rule

Afghanistan’s government said that Russia had become the first country to officially recognise its rule, calling it a “brave decision.”

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow saw good prospects to develop ties and would continue to support Kabul in security, counter-terrorism and combating drug crime. It also saw significant trade and economic opportunities, especially in energy, transport, agriculture and infrastructure. “We believe that the act of official recognition of the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in various fields,” the ministry said.

The Russian foreign ministry also announced that it had received credentials from Afghanistan’s newly appointed Ambassador Gul Hassan Hassan.

Afghanistan’s foreign ministry called it a historic step, and quoted Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi as welcoming the decision as “a good example for other countries.”

The Taliban swept back to power in 2021 after ousting the foreign-backed government and have imposed an austere version of Islamic law.

The announcement was made after Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Russia’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, in Kabul on Thursday. “This brave decision will be an example for others... Now that the process of recognition has started, Russia was ahead of everyone,” Muttaqi said in a video of the meeting on X.

“Russia is the first country which has officially recognised the Islamic Emirate,” Taliban foreign ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal told AFP, using the government’s name for their administration.

Muttaqi said it was “a new phase of positive relations, mutual respect, and constructive engagement,” the foreign ministry posted on X.

Russia’s foreign ministry added on Telegram: “We believe that the act of official recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will boost the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in several areas.”

It highlighted potential “commercial and economic” cooperation in “energy, transportation, agriculture and infrastructure.”

The ministry said that Moscow hoped to continue helping Kabul “reinforce regional security and fight against the threats of terrorism and drug-trafficking.”

China on Friday said it welcomed Russia’s decision. “As a traditional friendly neighbour of Afghanistan, the Chinese side has always believed that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.

China does not officially recognise the government but hosts a Taliban ambassador in Beijing.

It has said the Taliban government will need to introduce political reforms, improve security and mend relations with its neighbouring countries before receiving full diplomatic recognition.

But on Friday, Mao said: “No matter how the internal or external situation changes in Afghanistan, diplomatic relations between China and Afghanistan have never been interrupted.”

“The diplomatic institutions of the two sides in each other’s countries have maintained their normal functioning and have played a positive role in promoting the development of relations between the two countries,” she added.

Russia has taken recent steps to normalise relations with the Taliban authorities, removing them from a list of “terrorist organisations” in April and accepting a Taliban ambassador in Moscow.

In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Taliban “allies in the fight against terrorism”.

Russia was the first country to open a business representative office in Kabul after the Taliban takeover, and has announced plans to use Afghanistan as a transit hub for gas heading to Southeast Asia.

This time, multiple other states, including China and Pakistan, have accepted Taliban ambassadors in their capitals, but have not officially recognised the Islamic Emirate since the end of the then-insurgency’s two-decade war with US-led NATO troops.

There has been limited but growing engagement with the Taliban authorities, particularly from regional neighbours, but also major global players China and Russia.

Agence France-Presse