By Faith Barbara N Ruhinda Updated at 1420 EAT on Friday 4 July 2025

Russia has become the first country to formally recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan since the group seized power in 2021, announcing Thursday that it has accepted an ambassador appointed by the Islamist regime.

“We believe that the act of official recognition of the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will provide momentum for the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in various fields,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“We see significant prospects for cooperation in trade and economic areas, with a focus on projects in energy, transport, agriculture, and infrastructure,” the statement continued. “We will also continue to assist Kabul in strengthening regional security and in combating the threats of terrorism and drug-related crime.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement was accompanied by a photo showing the new Afghan ambassador to Russia, Gul Hassan Hassan, presenting his credentials to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko.

Meanwhile, on X (formerly Twitter), the Taliban’s foreign ministry shared images of Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi meeting with Russian Ambassador to Kabul Dmitry Zhirnov, praising Russia’s recognition as a “positive and important” development.

Russia’s recognition of the Taliban government is historically significant. The former Soviet Union waged a costly nine-year war in Afghanistan, ultimately withdrawing its troops in 1989 after being defeated by Afghan mujahideen fighters some of whom later founded the modern Taliban.

Following the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russia was among the few countries to maintain a diplomatic presence in Kabul. In April 2025, Russia officially removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations.

While the Taliban has exchanged ambassadors with China and the United Arab Emirates and maintains a long-standing political office in Qatar, none of these countries formally recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

Despite the lack of formal recognition, Afghanistan’s new rulers have actively engaged with the international community. In 2023, a Chinese oil company signed a deal with the Taliban for oil extraction, signaling growing economic ties.

Additionally, the Taliban have sought recognition from the United States, a former adversary.

Reports indicate that diplomatic efforts intensified following President Donald Trump’s second term, which began earlier this year. Notably, in March 2025, two Americans were released from Afghanistan, and the U.S. lifted millions of dollars in bounties on three Taliban officials.

In April, sources familiar with discussions said the Taliban had proposed a series of steps aimed at gaining U.S. recognition, including the establishment of an office in the United States to manage Afghan affairs effectively functioning like an embassy.

During a March meeting focused on securing the release of an American prisoner, U.S. officials reportedly urged the Taliban to take bold steps. “You need to be forthcoming and take a risk,” one official said. “Do this, and it will likely open the door to a better relationship.”

This was not the first time Washington had engaged the Taliban diplomatically.

In the final year of Donald Trump’s first term, his administration reached a deal with the group for a complete U.S. withdrawal by 2021. That agreement culminated in a chaotic exit as the Taliban reclaimed control of Afghanistan during President Joe Biden’s first summer in office.

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