Russia becomes first country to recognise Taliban government in Afghanistan

Russia said it has accepted the credentials of a new ambassador of Afghanistan, making it the first nation to recognise the Taliban government of the country.

“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 Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed the development, saying Russian Ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov met Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and conveyed the government’s decision that underscores “the importance of this decision”.

Zhirnov called it “a historic step towards strengthening relations between the two countries”.

The Afghanistan Foreign Ministry said: “With this step, bilateral relations between the two countries will further expand.”

Muttaqi expressed hope that it would lead to enhanced cooperation and “would also further strengthen cooperation between Afghanistan and Russia”.

Zhirnov told state TV channel Rossiya-1 that the decision was made by President Vladimir Putin at the suggestion of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. “It demonstrates Russia’s sincere desire to establish a full-fledged partnership with Afghanistan,” he said.

Russia has taken the lead as the first country to formally recognise the Taliban administration.

No UN member state had recognised the interim Taliban administration in Kabul since its return to power in August 2021.