Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday revoked the Taliban’s designation as a “terrorist organisation,” in what appears to be a symbolic move aimed at fostering amicable relations with Afghanistan’s current governing authorities.
The Islamist group gained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, coinciding with the withdrawal of American forces who had been supporting the internationally recognized Afghan government.
Moscow, which characterized the U.S. withdrawal as a “failure,” has since taken steps to normalize its interactions with the Taliban administration, viewing them as a potential economic partner and a collaborator in the fight against terrorism.
“The previously established ban on the activities of the Taliban — included on the unified federal list of organisations recognised as terrorist — has been suspended,” stated Supreme Court Judge Oleg Nefedov in a ruling, according to the TASS state news agency. “The decision enters into legal force immediately,” he further noted.
Russia’s Prosecutor General had requested the court to remove the group’s “terrorist” classification the previous month, following several visits to Russia by high-ranking Taliban officials.
A Taliban delegation participated in Russia’s prominent economic forum in Saint Petersburg in both 2022 and 2024, and the group’s chief diplomat held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow last October.
While the decision to suspend the “terrorist” label does not constitute formal recognition of the Taliban authorities, who are actively seeking international legitimacy, it does mitigate potential awkwardness for Russian officials when engaging with representatives from the militant group at significant international events.
Shifting attitudes
Moscow’s stance towards the Taliban has undergone a significant transformation over the past two decades.
The group’s formation dates back to 1994 during the Afghan Civil War, largely comprising former Mujahideen fighters who had resisted the Soviet Union during the 1980s.
The Soviet-Afghan war, which resulted in substantial casualties for the Soviet military, culminated in a notable defeat for Moscow and is considered a contributing factor to the eventual dissolution of the USSR.
Moscow officially designated the Taliban as a terrorist organization in 2003, citing its support for separatist movements in the North Caucasus region.
However, the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 has compelled Russia and other nations in the region to reassess their strategies as they vie for influence in the evolving geopolitical landscape.
Russia was among the first countries to establish a business representative office in Kabul following the Taliban’s takeover and has announced intentions to utilize Afghanistan as a transit corridor for natural gas destined for Southeast Asian markets.
In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the Taliban as “allies in the fight against terrorism.”
Both Russia and the Taliban authorities share a common objective in combating the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), an Islamist extremist group responsible for numerous deadly attacks in both Afghanistan and Russia, including the devastating attack on a Moscow concert hall in March 2024 that resulted in 145 fatalities.
Several other countries have also sought to cultivate ties with the Taliban administration, although no nation has yet taken the step of officially recognizing their government.
Kazakhstan announced the previous year that it had removed the Taliban from its list of “terrorist organizations.”
In 2023, China became the first country to appoint a new ambassador to Kabul and has been developing increasing economic ties with the new Afghan rulers.
