Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan share a close geographical proximity, and with the Taliban, banned in Russia, now serving as the de facto government in Kabul, Russia understands Kyrgyzstan's decision to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations. This was confirmed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov during a briefing.
“Kyrgyzstan is geographically very close to Afghanistan,” Peskov noted, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with neighboring countries. He explained that establishing connections with the authorities in Kabul is essential for regional stability. “Without this, no contacts can be made,” Peskov elaborated, concluding that Russia “treats this situation with understanding.”
After the United States announced its intention to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan in the spring of 2021, the Taliban swiftly launched an offensive to take control of the country. On August 15 of the same year, the Taliban entered Kabul without resistance, later declaring the formation of an interim government, which has yet to be recognized by any nation.
Russian diplomats have also discussed the possibility of removing the Taliban from Russia's own list of terrorist organizations. Zamir Kabulov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's Special Representative for Afghanistan, stated that both the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Justice Ministry have reported to Putin that removing the Taliban from the list is under consideration. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed support for this initiative, calling it a reflection of the current realities in Afghanistan.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Robert Pastryk/Pixabay
Based on materials from TASS