Afghanistan’s government said on Thursday, July 3rd that Russia had become the first country to officially recognise its rule, calling it a “brave decision.”
The Taliban swept back to power in 2021 after ousting the foreign-backed government and have imposed an austere version of Islamic law.
They have keenly sought official international recognition and investment, as the country recovers from four decades of war, including the Soviet invasion from 1979 to 1989.
The announcement was made after Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Russia’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, in Kabul on Thursday.
Russia’s foreign ministry said: “We believe that the act of official recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will boost the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in several areas.”
It highlighted potential “commercial and economic” cooperation in “energy, transportation, agriculture, and infrastructure.”
The ministry said that Moscow hoped to continue helping Kabul “reinforce regional security and fight against the threats of terrorism and drug-trafficking.”
Only Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates recognised the Taliban during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001.
This time, multiple other states, including China and Pakistan, have accepted Taliban ambassadors in their capitals, but have not officially recognised the Islamic Emirate since the end of the then-insurgency’s two-decade war with U.S.-led NATO troops.
China on Friday said it welcomed Russia’s decision.
“As a traditional friendly neighbour of Afghanistan, the Chinese side has always believed that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.
