Russia recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan – Mehr News Agency | Iranian and world news

Russia announced on Thursday that it has accepted the new Afghan ambassador, thus becoming the first country to recognize the Taliban government, Mehr News Agency quoted Reuters as saying.

According to a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Moscow is seeing good prospects for developing relations with Kabul and will continue to support Afghanistan in the areas of security, combating terrorism and drug crimes.

“We believe that recognizing the Islamic Emirate government of Afghanistan will be a stimulus to develop constructive bilateral cooperation between the two countries in different areas,” the ministry added.

Amir Khan “We appreciate this courageous Russian move, and this can be a model for others,” the Taliban’s foreign minister said in a statement.

No other country so far officially the Taliban government in August 2 And after the turbulent departure of US -led forces after five years of war, it has not been recognized. However, China, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Pakistan have all appointed ambassadors in Kabul, which is a step towards recognizing the government.

Taliban’s important step to reduce international isolation

The Russian move is an important turning point for the Taliban government that is trying to reduce its international isolation. This Moscow decision will most likely be observed by Washington; The United States has blocked billions of dollars in the Afghan Central Bank’s assets and has imposed sanctions on some of the senior Taliban leaders, which has led to the disconnection of much of the Afghan banking system with the global financial system.

Russia has gradually expanded its relations with the Taliban, so that President Vladimir Putin said last year that the Taliban are now an alternative to terrorism.

Since year 4, Afghanistan has imported gas, oil and wheat from Russia. Russia banned the Taliban as a terrorist movement in 2008, but the ban was lifted in April this year. Moscow believes that due to security threats from extremist groups based in countries from Afghanistan to the Middle East, it needs to cooperate with Kabul.