Russia to lift ban on Taliban, Sergei Lavrov says they are ‘real power’ in Afghanistan
RIA Novosti.The development came three years after the Taliban returned to power in war-torn Afghanistan.ALSO READ: Afghanistan floods: Fifty people lost their lives due to heavy rainsSince 2003, the Taliban group has been designated as a terrorist outfit in Russia.“Kazakhstan has recently taken the decision, which we are also going to take, to remove them from the list of terrorist organisations," RIA Novosti quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying on Monday.At the end of 2023, Kazakhstan had removed the Taliban from its list of banned organisations.Despite international sanctions on the Taliban, Russia has fostered its ties with the government run by the banned outfit in Afghanistan.Moscow had also held multiple rounds of talks and boosted trade with Kabul.But, Russia has not recognised Afghanistan’s Taliban government officially yet.The state news agency TASS, citing Zamir Kabulov - director of the Second Asia Department at the Russian foreign ministry, reported that Russia’s foreign and justice ministries have reported to President Putin on the issue of removing the ban on the Taliban.ALSO READ: The Taliban warn journalists and experts against cooperating with Afghanistan International TVThe latest move by Russia could further boost diplomacy between Moscow and Kabul.According to RIA Novosti, Lavrov said Russia's decision was about recognising the realities on the ground.“They are the real power. We are not indifferent to Afghanistan.
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