Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that the decision to delist the Taliban as a terrorist organization was made “at the highest level,” according to the state news agency TASS. Zamir Kabulov, President Vladimir Putin‘s special representative for Afghanistan, indicated that this decision requires various legal processes to be implemented for it to take effect. In July, Putin stated that Russia views the Taliban as a partner in the fight against terrorism.

While no country has officially recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, both China and the UAE have accepted its ambassadors. Russia designated the Taliban as a terrorist organization in 2003, and its removal from this list would represent a significant move by Moscow towards normalizing relations with Afghanistan.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of the Taliban, expressed his approval during a speech in Moscow regarding the recent decisions by Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to lift the ban on former insurgents. He stated, “We also value the encouraging comments made by senior officials of the Russian Federation and look forward to more effective actions in the near future.”

In related remarks on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized the importance of maintaining a “pragmatic dialogue” with the current Afghan government. He noted, “It is clear that addressing issues or even discussing a resolution for Afghanistan cannot occur without the involvement of Kabul.” Lavrov further stated that Moscow would persist in fostering political, trade, and economic relations with Kabul, during a meeting in Moscow with Muttaqi and representatives from neighboring countries. Although he did not specifically mention the Taliban, he commended the current Afghan leadership for its initiatives to reduce drug production and combat the Islamic State, which is banned in Russia.

Muttaqi emphasized the necessity for regional countries to collaborate in combating the Islamic State, which he noted has set up training facilities beyond Afghanistan’s borders. Lavrov urged the United States to return assets that have been seized from Afghanistan and called on Western nations to take responsibility for the country’s reconstruction following the conflict.

He also advocated for an increase in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, stating that Russia would continue to provide food and essential supplies. Russia’s involvement in Afghanistan has been fraught with challenges, dating back to the Soviet invasion in 1979 aimed at supporting a pro-Moscow regime, which ultimately ended in withdrawal after a decade due to significant losses inflicted by mujahideen fighters.

Additionally, Russia and its neighboring post-Soviet states have faced ongoing threats from Islamist militant groups associated with Afghanistan, highlighted by a recent attack in March that resulted in 145 fatalities at a concert hall near Moscow, claimed by the Islamic State.