Russia officially recognizes Taliban-led Afghanistan

Sunday 03 August 2025 - 11:45

Russia has officially recognized the Islamic Emirate established by the Taliban in Afghanistan, marking a significant step in its diplomatic rapprochement with Kabul, according to Russian news agencies on Thursday.

Zamir Kabulov, the Russian president’s special envoy for Afghanistan, confirmed the recognition with a simple “Recognized” to RIA Novosti. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the decision to TASS.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi hailed the move as a “brave decision” and called it “an example for others,” during a meeting with Russian Ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov in Kabul. A video of the encounter was shared on social media platform X.

On Thursday, the Taliban's flag was raised for the first time above the Afghan Embassy in Moscow, symbolizing the new official status of the government.

Earlier that day, Russia formally accepted the credentials of the new Afghan ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan. The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the recognition would promote “productive bilateral cooperation” across various fields.

“There are significant opportunities for cooperation, particularly in trade, energy, transport, agriculture, and infrastructure,” the ministry stated.

Moscow also reaffirmed its intention to support Afghanistan in improving regional security and combating terrorism and drug trafficking. Cultural and humanitarian collaboration, including in education and sports, was also mentioned as a priority.

This diplomatic shift follows Russia’s Supreme Court decision in April to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, signaling Moscow’s intention to strengthen ties with Afghanistan, a country still largely isolated on the global stage.