Russia removes Afghan Taliban from list of banned terrorist groups

(Patria) - Russia yesterday lifted the ban on the Taliban, which it had designated as a terrorist organization for more than two decades, in a move that opens the way for Moscow to normalise ties with the leadership of Afghanistan.

No country currently recognises the Taliban government, which took power in August 2021, when US-led forces organised a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.

But Russia is gradually building ties with a movement that President Vladimir Putin last year said was now an ally in the fight against terrorism.

The Taliban was banned as a terrorist movement by Russia in 2003. State media reported that the Supreme Court on Thursday lifted the ban with immediate effect.

Russia considers it necessary to cooperate with the Taliban as it faces a major security threat from militant groups based in a number of countries from Afghanistan to the Middle East.