Russia just became the first nation to formally recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan—nearly four years after the group seized power again. 

The recognition came as Russia accepted credentials from Afghanistan’s new ambassador, a move that the Russian Foreign Ministry stated would “give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in various fields.”

“We value this courageous step taken by Russia, and, God willing, it will serve as an example for others as well,” said Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Russia seeks trade and economic opportunities from Taliban

The Russian Foreign Ministry outlined concrete benefits: cooperation in security, counter-terrorism, and combating drug crime. More importantly, Moscow sees “significant trade and economic opportunities” in energy, transport, agriculture, and infrastructure.

This isn’t sudden diplomacy. Russia has been quietly building economic ties with the Taliban for years. Since 2022, Afghanistan has imported gas, oil, and wheat from Russia. 

Russia’s approach required reversing its previous position, as the Taliban had been designated a terrorist movement in Russia since 2003 until the ban was lifted in April this year.

Will other countries recognize Taliban?

Several nations have already moved partway. China, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan appointed ambassadors to Kabul—steps toward recognition without full diplomatic acknowledgment, according to Reuters.

But Western governments remain firmly opposed. Their position centers on one issue: women’s rights. The Taliban has banned girls and women from high schools and universities. Women cannot move freely without male guardians. Western diplomats say broader recognition won’t happen until these policies change.

The Taliban justifies these restrictions under its interpretation of Islamic law. That creates a fundamental standoff with Western expectations.

The decision also comes as Russia faces security challenges from militant groups operating across the region. President Vladimir Putin described the Taliban last year as an ally in fighting terrorism, a characterization that gained relevance following the March 2024 attack on a Moscow concert hall that killed 149 people, which US officials attributed to the Afghan branch of Islamic State.

Western isolation strategy crumbles

Russia’s recognition carries particular weight given Moscow’s bloody history in Afghanistan. Soviet forces invaded in 1979, fought for a decade against the Mujahideen insurgents, and withdrew in 1989 after losing approximately 15,000 soldiers. Putin is now embracing the group that emerged from that conflict’s aftermath.

Meanwhile, the US has frozen billions in Afghanistan’s central bank assets and maintains sanctions on Taliban leaders. Russia’s move could encourage other countries to break ranks, potentially undermining the Western isolation strategy.

For the Taliban, this represents their biggest diplomatic victory since taking power. They’ve broken the wall of non-recognition that has defined their international status for nearly four years.

Russia became the first country to recognize the Taliban as the ruling government of Afghanistan on July 3, Russia's Foreign Ministry announced.

"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 Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Taliban, an Islamist militant group, seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces, toppling the Western-backed government.

Despite its control over the country, the Taliban-led administration has not been formally recognized by any other state due to its failure to meet international commitments on human rights, governance, and counter-terrorism.

Russian state media outlet TASS reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin made the final decision based on advice from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

As relations with Western governments fell apart following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin has increasingly looked to work closely with totalitarian regimes, including North Korea and Iran, to advance economic and military partnerships.

In recent years, Moscow has expanded engagement with the Taliban, deepening trade ties and investing in Afghan infrastructure. The Taliban also regularly participates in Russian economic and educational forums.

In recent months, Russia's Supreme Court ruled to suspend the ban on dealings with the Taliban, and Russia's State Duma passed legislation in December 2024 allowing the possibility of removing organizations from the list of banned terrorist groups.

Putin has previously referred to the Taliban as "allies," while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called them "sane people."

The Taliban, however, continues to enforce strict Islamic law, banning women from education, restricting social interactions, and carrying out the public stoning of women to death.

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The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk