Russia’s decision to officially recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has paved the way for building a full-fledged partnership with the authorities in Kabul, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.
“I think it would be incorrect to speak of some kind of shift in Russia’s position. On the contrary — Russia has consistently advocated and continues to advocate for mutually beneficial cooperation with Afghanistan for the sake of our peoples,” she said. “The decision of the Russian Supreme Court has opened the way to establishing a full-fledged partnership with the de facto authorities in Kabul. The exchange of credentials, in my view, has only formalized the trend that has been evident in recent years,” the diplomat added.
Zakharova also underscored Afghanistan’s unique geostrategic position, saying it could one day serve as a key link in major energy and infrastructure projects. “Kabul’s contribution is highly sought-after in addressing regional security challenges, above all in combating drug trafficking and terrorism. And I would also point once again to the centuries-old cultural and historical ties between our two countries,” she said.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed to TASS that Russia had officially recognized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. On July 1, Kabul’s new ambassador to Moscow, Gul Hassan, arrived in the Russian capital; on July 3, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko accepted copies of his credentials.
On April 17, Russia’s Supreme Court upheld an administrative petition from the Prosecutor General’s Office to lift the ban on the activities of the Taliban movement in Russia. As the Foreign Ministry noted at the time, removing the terrorist designation from the Taliban opened the door to a full-fledged partnership with Kabul, in the interests of both the Russian and Afghan peoples.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on TASS materials