Russia Considers Taliban as Ally in Terrorism Fight

Russia's Foreign Ministry announced efforts to remove the Taliban from the list of terrorist organizations, a move initiated at the highest level. Russia, perceiving the Taliban as an ally against terrorism, has been strengthening ties since the group's 2021 rise to power in Afghanistan.

In a significant development, Russia's Foreign Ministry declared on Friday its intention to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations. This decision, reportedly made at the highest level, was revealed by state news agency TASS.

The move indicates a strategic shift, with President Vladimir Putin's special representative on Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, noting that several legal procedures are still required to implement this change. This follows Putin's earlier assertion in July that Russia views the Taliban as an ally in countering terrorism.

Since the Taliban regained control in Afghanistan in August 2021, Russia has been gradually building connections with the group, although officially, Moscow labeled the Taliban a terrorist organization in 2003.

(With inputs from agencies.)