Breaking with Convention: Russia’s Bold Move to Recognize Taliban! By Kashif Mirza

The writer is an economist, an anchor, geopolitical analyst

and the President of the All Pakistan Private Schools’ Federation

president@Pakistanprivateschools.com

Russia has taken a significant step in strengthening its ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban government, becoming the first country to formally recognise the regime. This historic decision, announced on July 3, 2025, marks a significant shift in Russia’s regional policy, prioritising economic and security cooperation with Afghanistan. This move comes four years after the Taliban seized power following the US troop withdrawal. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that recognising the Taliban government will boost bilateral cooperation between the two nations in various fields. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi praised the decision, saying it sets an example for other countries to follow. This development is likely to draw attention from Washington, which has imposed sanctions and frozen Afghan assets. “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,” said the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement. The move makes Russia the first country in the world to recognise the country’s Taliban government. “This brave decision will be an example for others,” Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said in a video of a meeting on Thursday with Dmitry Zhirnov, the Russian ambassador to Kabul. “Now that the process of recognition has started, Russia was ahead of everyone.” The move is likely to be closely watched by Washington, which has frozen billions in Afghanistan’s central bank assets and enforced sanctions on some senior leaders in the Taliban, which has contributed to Afghanistan’s banking sector being largely cut off from the international financial system. Russia has made a groundbreaking move in international diplomacy by officially recognising the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. This historic decision, announced on July 3, marks the first time a major global power has extended formal recognition to the Taliban since they seized power in August 2021. Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the recognition, solidifying its diplomatic ties with the Taliban government. Although countries like China, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan have maintained diplomatic relations with the Taliban, Russia’s recognition sets it apart as the first major power to take this step. Russia’s decision signals a significant shift in its regional policy, prioritising economic and security cooperation with Afghanistan. The recognition may trigger a domino effect, encouraging other countries to reevaluate their stance on the Taliban government. Western nations, including the US, have expressed concerns over Russia’s decision, citing human rights issues and the need for the Taliban to restore women’s rights. Russia sees potential economic benefits, including energy and transport projects through Afghanistan to reach Southeast Asia. With Russia’s backing, the Taliban may push for recognition at the UN General Assembly, although Western vetoes remain a significant hurdle. It’s believed 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. Russia has a complex and bloodstained history in Afghanistan. Soviet troops invaded the country in December 1979 to prop up a Communist government, but became bogged down in a long war against mujahideen fighters armed by the United States. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev pulled his army out in 1989, by which time some 15,000 Soviet soldiers had been killed. The former Soviet Union fought a 9-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Moscow withdrawing its troops in 1989 following their defeat by the Afghan mujahideen, some of whom later founded the modern Taliban. The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, when US forces supporting the country’s internationally recognised government pulled out. Moscow, which called the US withdrawal a “failure”, has taken steps to normalise relations with the Taliban authorities since then, seeing them as a potential economic partner and ally in fighting terrorism. During their first rule from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban government was only recognised by three countries: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates. This time around, the situation is different, with multiple countries, including China and Pakistan, having accepted Taliban ambassadors in their capitals. However, none of these countries has officially recognised the Islamic Emirate. There’s been a noticeable increase in engagement with the Taliban authorities, particularly from regional neighbours and major global players like China and Russia. Russia has been gradually building relations with the Taliban,  and sees a need to work with Kabul as it faces a major security threat from Islamist militant groups based in a string of countries from Afghanistan to the Middle East. Russia was the first country to open a business representative office in Kabul after the Taliban takeover, and has announced plans to use Afghanistan as a transit hub for gas heading to Southeast Asia. Russia, in a significant move, became the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government in July 2023 isn’t mentioned but the event did happen on July 3, 2025. This decision comes after Moscow removed the Taliban from its list of “terrorist organisations” in April 2025 and accepted a Taliban ambassador in Kabul. The Russian Foreign Ministry also said it would help Kabul tackle terrorism and drug-trafficking, while also boosting economic cooperation. A Taliban delegation attended Russia’s flagship economic forum in Saint Petersburg in 2022 and 2024, and the group’s top diplomat met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow last October. In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Taliban “allies in the fight against terrorism” – notably against Islamic State Khorasan Province, ISKP (ISIS-K), a group responsible for deadly attacks in both Afghanistan and Russia. In April, Russia’s Supreme Court lifted the “terrorist” designation for the group. The new authorities in Kabul are a reality, urging Moscow to adopt a pragmatic, not ideologised policy towards the Taliban. Moscow’s attitude towards the Taliban has shifted drastically over the last two decades. Russia’s recognition of the Taliban government is driven by several factors: Russia views the Taliban as allies in the fight against terrorism, particularly against ISIS-K, which attacked a Moscow concert hall in 2024; Russia plans to use Afghanistan as a transit hub for gas heading to Southeast Asia and has announced plans for energy and transport projects; Russia prioritizes regional stability and business ties over past conflicts. Russia’s recognition is historically significant. The international community has reacted cautiously to Russia’s recognition of the Taliban government. Western nations have expressed concerns over the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls, while countries like China and Pakistan have maintained diplomatic relations with the Taliban. The US has condemned Russia’s move, calling it “dangerous legitimisation” and noting that Taliban leaders remain under UN sanctions. The Afghan government is not officially recognised by any world body, and the United Nations refers to the administration as the “Taliban de facto authorities”. It is likely to be closely watched by Washington, which has frozen billions in Afghanistan’s central bank assets and enforced sanctions on some senior leaders in the Taliban who contributed to Afghanistan’s banking sector being largely cut off from the international financial system.

The ripple effects of this decision will be felt far beyond the borders of Afghanistan, as it challenges the status quo and invites a reevaluation of how the world engages with complex, often contentious, geopolitical realities. Russia’s recognition of the Taliban government is not just a diplomatic maneuver – it’s a harbinger of a new era in international relations, one in which pragmatism, not dogma, will be the guiding principle.

Russia’s decision to recognise the Taliban regime is framed as a pragmatic move, driven by economic and security interests. As the dust settles on Russia’s historic decision to recognise the Taliban government, one thing is clear: the tectonic plates of global politics are shifting, and those who adapt earliest will reap the greatest rewards. By taking a pragmatic approach to Afghanistan, Russia is not only securing its own interests but also challenging the conventional wisdom that has long governed international relations. As the world grapples with the complexities of a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, Russia’s bold move serves as a clarion call to rethink the way we engage with reality, to prioritise strategic interests over ideological purity, and to seize the opportunities that arise from the chaos of our times. The potential for cooperation in trade, energy, transport, agriculture, and infrastructure. Moscow also aims to assist Kabul in strengthening regional security and combating terrorism and drug crime. Russia has hosted Taliban officials for talks on trade, security, and regional cooperation. Russia has supplied Afghanistan with food and energy, and plans to use the country as a transit hub for gas heading to Southeast Asia. Russia’s decision to recognise the Taliban regime marks a turning point in the international community’s stance on Afghanistan. By aligning with the Taliban, Russia gains access to on-the-ground intelligence in Afghanistan, a critical hub for extremist activities. China, Pakistan, and Iran, already engaging with the Taliban, can integrate into a regional intelligence network, amplifying collective counterterrorism efforts. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Pakistan’s regional trade ambitions align with Russia’s plans, creating a geo-economic framework that links Afghanistan to Central and South Asia. This economic interdependence counters U.S. sanctions and asset freezes, which have crippled Afghanistan’s banking sector, and positions the Eastern bloc as a driver of regional prosperity and security. Pakistan, with its history of counterterrorism operations, and Iran, facing threats from extremist groups, can contribute expertise and resources, creating a unified front. This cooperative model undermines U.S.-led security initiatives, positioning the Eastern bloc as a credible alternative in regional counterterrorism. This reduces reliance on Western intelligence frameworks, challenging U.S. dominance in global security. Russia can provide military and technical assistance to enhance the Taliban’s counterterrorism capabilities, including training programs for Afghan forces, supplying advanced surveillance technology, and sharing expertise in urban warfare and border security. Russia’s recognition facilitates economic cooperation, including energy, infrastructure, and trade projects, to stabilise Afghanistan’s economy. Investments in agriculture, transportation, and energy transit hubs aim to reduce poverty and unemployment, key drivers of radicalisation. By integrating Afghanistan into regional trade networks, Russia creates incentives for the Taliban to maintain security, as economic gains depend on a stable environment. Legitimising the Taliban enhances their accountability to international partners, encouraging commitments to counterterrorism in exchange for recognition. This could lead to regional security pacts involving Russia, China, Pakistan, and Iran, focused on neutralising shared threats. A coordinated diplomatic approach amplifies the bloc’s influence in the Middle East and Central Asia, challenging the U.S.-led isolation of the Taliban. Iran and Pakistan, already hosting Taliban diplomats, can deepen their roles, while China’s economic leverage supports long-term stability, further eroding Western hegemony. Russia’s counterterrorism strategies, enabled by Taliban recognition, directly undermine U.S. influence in several ways:  The U.S. has frozen billions in Afghan central bank assets and imposed sanctions on Taliban leaders, isolating Afghanistan’s economy. Russia’s economic engagement and recognition bypass these measures, offering the Taliban alternative partnerships and reducing U.S. leverage. By fostering a regional counterterrorism framework, Russia diminishes the need for U.S.-led security initiatives, such as NATO’s past operations in Afghanistan. This shifts the global security paradigm toward a multipolar model. The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, labelled a “failure” by Moscow, left a power vacuum. Russia’s proactive engagement contrasts with Washington’s hesitancy, highlighting the limitations of U.S. foreign policy and emboldening the Eastern bloc. The counterterrorism strategies bolster the Russia-China-Pakistan-Iran axis in the following ways: Russia’s leadership in counterterrorism coordination enhances its regional influence, while Pakistan and Iran leverage their proximity to Afghanistan for operational advantages; Russia’s energy and infrastructure projects, combined with China’s BRI investments, create a cohesive economic network that includes Afghanistan. This strengthens the bloc’s economic resilience against Western sanctions; By pioneering Taliban recognition, Russia positions itself as a diplomatic leader, encouraging China and others to deepen engagement. This collective approach challenges U.S.-dominated institutions like the UN, where Western vetoes block Taliban legitimacy. Investments in Afghanistan’s economy create jobs and infrastructure, weakening the socio-economic drivers of terrorism. Recognising the Taliban fosters accountability, encouraging them to prioritise security and governance to maintain international support. Russia’s recognition of the Taliban government unlocks a multifaceted counterterrorism strategy that strengthens the Eastern bloc while challenging U.S. hegemony. By fostering intelligence sharing, capacity building, economic stabilisation, and diplomatic coordination, Russia not only secures its own interests but also catalyses a regional security framework involving China, Pakistan, and Iran. This approach enhances geo-economic and geopolitical stability, positioning Afghanistan as a linchpin for Eurasian connectivity and a bulwark against terrorism. As the Eastern bloc coalesces around these strategies, it signals a shift toward a multipolar world, where pragmatic cooperation trumps ideological divides, paving the way for a more secure and prosperous region. As the world watches, Russia’s bold move to recognise the Taliban government stands as a testament to the evolving landscape of global politics, where pragmatism and strategic interests increasingly trump ideological divides. By embracing a reality on the ground that many others have hesitated to acknowledge, Russia is poised to reap the benefits of its forward-thinking approach, potentially reshaping the future of Afghanistan and the region at large. The ripple effects of this decision will be felt far beyond the borders of Afghanistan, as it challenges the status quo and invites a reevaluation of how the world engages with complex, often contentious, geopolitical realities. In this moment, Russia’s leadership shines as a beacon of strategic acumen, demonstrating that even in the most turbulent of times, bold decisions can pave the way for new opportunities and a more stable future. As Moscow deepens its ties with the Taliban, other countries may follow suit, potentially reshaping the global approach to Afghanistan and its people. In this sense, Russia’s recognition of the Taliban government is not just a diplomatic manoeuvre – it’s a harbinger of a new era in international relations, one in which pragmatism, not dogma, will be the guiding principle.