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Russia officially recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan on Thursday, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough for the militant group that has sought international legitimacy since seizing power in 2021.
The recognition was announced by Zamir Kabulov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special representative for Afghanistan, in an interview with the RIA Novosti news agency. Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry confirmed the development shortly after.
Russian Ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov met with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to formally convey Moscow's decision. Zhirnov described the move as "a historic step towards strengthening relations between the two countries."
"It demonstrates Russia's sincere desire to establish a full-fledged partnership with Afghanistan," Zhirnov told Russian state television channel Rossiya-1. He said the decision was made by Putin at the recommendation of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The Taliban government welcomed the recognition, with the Afghan Foreign Ministry stating that "bilateral relations between the two countries will further expand" as a result. Muttaqi expressed hope the decision would lead to enhanced cooperation and "further strengthen cooperation between Afghanistan and Russia."
Russia's recognition makes it the first UN member state to formally acknowledge the Taliban administration since the group returned to power in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday it had received credentials from Afghanistan's newly appointed ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan. Moscow stated that the recognition would "give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in various fields."
The diplomatic milestone comes as Afghanistan grapples with a severe economic crisis. The United States has frozen approximately $7 billion in Afghan foreign assets since the military withdrawal nearly four years ago, contributing to widespread financial hardship in the country.
While most nations have maintained diplomatic distance from the Taliban, a few countries have taken steps toward engagement. China has accepted an ambassador from the Taliban-led administration and sent its own envoy to Kabul in September 2023, though it has stopped short of formal recognition.
The Taliban's quest for international recognition has been hampered by concerns over human rights, particularly restrictions on women's education and employment. No country had previously granted full diplomatic recognition to the current Afghan government.
Russia's decision could potentially encourage other nations to reconsider their stance toward the Taliban administration, though it remains unclear whether other major powers will follow Moscow's lead.
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