Russia has officially recognized Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, becoming the first country to do so. This comes after Russiaโs Supreme Court lifted the groupโs terrorist designation in April 2025.
Moscow now frames the regime as a stabilizing force against terrorism, citing shared security concerns and economic interests. Russian President Putin called Taliban โallies in the fight against Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), a group responsible for deadly attacks in both Afghanistan and Russia.
This a major diplomatic success for Taliban. Afghanistanโs Foreign Minister hailed it as a โbrave decisionโ and a signal to the international community. For Taliban, this recognition bolsters their claim to legitimacy and opens the door to global trade, investment, and regional cooperation.
Russian Foreign Minister said, “the new authorities in Kabul are a reality” and urged a โpragmatic, not ideologied policyโ towards the Taliban.”
Russiaโs recognition offers the Taliban regime much needed legitimacy. Increased leverage with the regime could help Russia reclaim some of the lost influence in Central and South Asia. It would also provide Moscow the access to mineral wealth of Afghanistan and opportunities to improve infrastructure and trade connectivity.
This move could embolden other nations to recalibrate their stance towards the Taliban regime. With China already engaging informally and India watching closely, Russiaโs recognition could spark a new geopolitical interest in Afghanistan’s future, framed less by ideology and more by realpolitik.
Disclaimer: The article has reference to open sources including Al Jazeera, BBC, and the CNN.