Taliban to appoint ambassador to Moscow following Russia's policy shift

The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan plans to send an ambassador to Russia shortly, following Moscow's decision to remove the group from its list of banned organisations.

The announcement was made by Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman Hafiz Zia Ahmad after a meeting between acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Russia’s special presidential envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"The Foreign Minister expressed gratitude for Russia's recent step to delist the Taliban as a banned organisation," Ahmad said in a statement.

Muttaqi also thanked Kabulov for enabling the appointment of a Taliban envoy to Russia and pledged that the ambassador would be dispatched shortly.

To recall, on April 17, 2025, Russia officially removed the Taliban from its list of banned terrorist organizations, ending a designation that had been in place since 2003. This decision, enacted by Russia's Supreme Court, reflects Moscow's intent to normalize relations with Afghanistan's Taliban-led government, which has held power since the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021. 

President Vladimir Putin has referred to the Taliban as an ally in combating terrorism, particularly in the wake of a deadly Crocus City Hall attack near Moscow in March 2024 that killed 145 people. The attack was attributed to Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), the Afghan branch of IS. Moscow views cooperation with the Taliban as crucial in countering such militant threats.

While this move facilitates diplomatic and economic engagement, it does not equate to formal recognition of the Taliban government. International recognition remains stalled due to the Taliban's restrictions on women's rights, including bans on female education and limitations on women's movement.

Russia's decision aligns with its broader strategy to engage with neighboring regimes to address regional security concerns. ​

By Aghakazim Guliyev