- Russia has become the first nation to formally recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan since the group seized power in August 2021.
- The recognition followed Moscow's decision to remove the Taliban from its list of outlawed entities and involved accepting credentials from Afghanistan’s newly appointed Ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan.
- The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that this official recognition would foster productive bilateral cooperation, with President Vladimir Putin making the decision on advice from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
- Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry hailed the development as a historic step, with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi welcoming it as a good example for other countries.
- Despite engaging in high-level talks with some nations, the Taliban government had remained largely isolated on the world stage, primarily due to its strict restrictions on women and girls.
IN FULL
Russia becomes first country to recognise Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan
