Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has affirmed that the Taliban represents the de facto authority in Afghanistan, a country that Russia “cannot ignore.”
Lavrov stated, “They are the actual authority in Afghanistan, a country that Russia cannot overlook, particularly regarding our allies in Central Asia.”
Earlier today, the Russian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice notified the Kremlin of the potential removal of the Taliban from Russia’s list of terrorist organizations.
According to TASS, Zamir Kabulov, the Russian President’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan, revealed that Moscow has invited Taliban representatives to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Kabulov added that the Russian Foreign Ministry holds a “positive” stance towards removing the group from the terrorist list.
It is noteworthy that Russia designated the Taliban as a terrorist organization in 2003. This potential reclassification signifies a significant shift in Moscow’s approach towards the group and highlights the evolving geopolitical landscape in Afghanistan and Central Asia.
