Though Russia once listed the Taliban as a terrorist organization, it has increasingly come to see it as an ally against other terrorist groups—notably the Islamic State’s Khorasan Province (ISIS-K).
On Thursday, Russia became the first country in the world to recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. The move came after the Kremlin accepted the credentials of a new ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan, on Monday. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that its official recognition should lead to “productive bilateral cooperation.”
Russia may not be alone for long in recognizing the Taliban government, as China and the United Arab Emirates also accepted Taliban-appointed envoys. Russia had previously received a Taliban “charge d’affaires” in 2022, paving the way for a formal ambassador to be appointed.
Afghanistan’s Return to the Old Ways
The Taliban retook control of Afghanistan while the United States and NATO withdrew their military forces in the spring and summer of 2021. Since then, the Taliban has sought international recognition, but had failed until now, primarily due to its strict interpretation of Islamic law, which placed heavy restrictions on women. The Taliban had previously ruled the central Asian nation from 1996 to 2001.
Since returning to power, women have been barred from most jobs, and are banned from entering public places without a male family member serving as an escort. Afghan girls are prohibited from an education after the sixth grade.
The recognition of the Taliban government follows Moscow’s removal of the group from a list of outlawed organizations, which occurred in April after nearly a year of consideration. The group had been designated a terrorist organization since 2003.
In many ways, the Kremlin’s rapprochement with the Taliban could be seen as working with “the devil you know,” as Russia continues to face security threats from Islamist militant groups throughout the Middle East and Asia. A high-profile terrorist attack against Moscow’s Crocus City Hall concert hall in March 2024 was carried out by the “Khorasan Province” of the Islamic State (ISIS-K), which is waging a brutal insurgency against the Taliban. Accordingly, Russia has grown closer to the Taliban; last July, Russian President Vladimir Putin went so far as to describe the Taliban as “allies in the fight against terrorism.”
What Does Russian Recognition Actually Mean?
Although it was arguably the decade-long conflict in Afghanistan in the 1980s that may have contributed to the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union, modern Russia in the 21st century is increasingly isolated. It may simply have nothing to lose by forging closer ties with Kabul.
“Russia’s recognition of the Taliban is a reflection of Putin’s view of international relations, where sovereignty is the only standard, the only value,” explained Dr. Matthew Schmidt, professor of political science at the University of New Haven.
“The behavior of a regime against its own citizens bears no impact on how Putin views the legitimacy and the sovereignty of that regime,” Schmidt told The National Interest. “Secondly, recognizing the Taliban is yet another way to throw a wrench into the international system because of the violence that the regime commits is an attack on Western values. It’s perfectly designed to be a provocation against those values and to reinforce his belief that sovereignty is the only important standard in international relations, whether it is the sovereign state of Libya under Qaddafi’s authoritarianism, or Iran, or Iraq, or ultimately Ukraine and Russia itself.”
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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