Russia officially recognises Taliban government, first country to do so

Russia has officially recognised the Taliban government in Afghanistan. On Thursday, the Russian government accepted the new Afghan ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan, who was appointed by the Taliban. With this move, Russia became the first country to officially recognise the Taliban-led government since it took over in 2021.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “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.”

The recognition comes after a special event in Moscow where Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Andrey Rudenko, met with Hassan and accepted his credentials. Photos shared by the Russian news agency TASS showed that the Taliban’s white flag was raised at the Afghan embassy in Moscow, replacing the former government’s flag.

TALIBAN WELCOMES RECOGNITION

Taliban officials in Kabul appreciated Russia’s move and said it would help strengthen ties. Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister, said, “This is a major milestone in the history of our relations.”

Russia has kept its embassy in Kabul open since the Taliban took power in August 2021. It has been engaging with Taliban leaders. The Russian government said it sees “significant prospects for cooperation in trade and economic areas,” and hopes to work on projects in energy, transport, agriculture, and infrastructure. Russia also mentioned plans to build stronger ties in education, culture, sports, and humanitarian work.

Till now, no other country has officially recognised the Taliban government. Most countries are waiting for the Taliban to meet international demands, particularly around human rights.

Despite Russia’s recognition, the Taliban is facing pressure to improve its human rights record. However, Russia’s decision could encourage other countries to reconsider their stance in the future.

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