Russia’s Supreme Court Suspends Taliban Ban, Signaling Closer Ties

Russia’s Supreme Court has suspended its long-standing ban on the Taliban, a move that signals a significant shift in Moscow’s approach towards the de facto rulers of Afghanistan and aims to normalize relations, Al Jazeera reports.

The Taliban had been designated as a “terrorist organization” in Russia for over 20 years.

The ruling, prompted by a request from the prosecutor general, was announced by Judge Oleg Nefedov and went into effect immediately, according to Russia’s Tass news agency.

This decision follows a period of gradual rapprochement between Moscow and the Taliban, despite a complex and sometimes turbulent history dating back to the Afghan Civil War of the 1990s.

In recent years, shared security interests, particularly in combating the regional affiliate of ISIL (ISIS), known as ISKP, have fostered closer ties between Russia and the Taliban.

Last year, President Vladimir Putin referred to the Taliban as an “ally” in counterterrorism efforts, and Russia’s envoy to Kabul announced plans to remove the group from its list of terrorist organizations.

Moscow, which has hosted Taliban officials for various forums in recent years, is also exploring the possibility of utilizing Afghanistan as a transit hub for gas exports to Southeast Asia.

Several other Asian countries have also been improving their relationships with the Taliban in recent years, although no state has yet moved to fully recognize the group.

In 2023, Kazakhstan removed the Taliban, which has faced international criticism for banning girls’ education and restricting women’s rights, from its list of “terrorist organizations.” Kyrgyzstan followed suit last year.

Countries such as China, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Iran maintain embassies in Kabul, with Beijing becoming the first to appoint an ambassador in 2023 following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.