In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow saw
good prospects to develop ties and would continue to support Kabul in security,
counter-terrorism and combating drug crime.
It also saw significant trade and economic opportunities,
especially in energy, transport, agriculture and infrastructure
"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
ministry said.
Afghan
Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said in a statement, "We value this
courageous step taken by Russia, and, God willing, it will serve as an example
for others as well."
No other country has formally recognized the Taliban
government that seized power in August 2021 as US-led forces staged a chaotic
withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.
China,
the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Pakistan have all designated
ambassadors to Kabul, in a step towards recognition.
The Russian move represents a major milestone for the
Taliban administration as it seeks to ease its international isolation.
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 that contributed to Afghanistan's banking sector being largely
cut off from the international financial system.
Russia has been gradually building relations with the Taliban,
which President Vladimir Putin said last year was now an ally in fighting
terrorism. Since 2022, Afghanistan has imported gas, oil and wheat from Russia.
The Taliban was outlawed by Russia as a terrorist movement
in 2003, but the ban was lifted in April this year. Russia 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.
In March 2024, gunmen killed 149 people at a concert hall
outside Moscow in an attack claimed by Islamic State. US officials said they
had intelligence indicating it was the Afghan branch of the group, Islamic
State Khorasan (ISIS-K), that was responsible.
The Taliban says it is working to wipe out the presence of
Islamic State 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.
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