Russia recognises Taliban regime, prioritising security and trade, challenging Western isolation and reshaping geopolitical engagement with post-war Afghanistan.

In a significant geopolitical shift, Russia has become the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government of Afghanistan by accepting the credentials of its ambassador. This move not only ends years of diplomatic ambiguity between Moscow and Kabul but also sends ripples through the global diplomatic community, particularly the West, which continues to withhold formal recognition due to human rights concerns.

For the Taliban, this recognition by a global power is a milestone in its quest for international legitimacy. Since regaining power in August 2021 after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal, the Taliban has governed without international endorsement, managing a fragile economy and facing criticism for its draconian policies, especially concerning women’s rights. No other nation has formally recognised the regime, although countries like China, the UAE, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan have taken incremental steps such as stationing ambassadors in Kabul.

Russia’s endorsement marks a pragmatic turn in foreign policy driven by security and strategic interests rather than ideology. In recent years, Moscow has cultivated ties with the Taliban, seeing it as a necessary partner in containing the spread of Islamist extremism across Central Asia. Following the March 2024 ISIS-K attack on a concert hall in Moscow that claimed 149 lives, Russia has heightened its focus on the Afghan-based branch of the Islamic State, viewing the Taliban as a useful, if unconventional, bulwark against such threats.

This recalibration of relations has been years in the making. Although the Taliban was designated a terrorist organisation by Russia in 2003, Moscow lifted this designation in April 2025, laying the groundwork for formal diplomatic engagement. Trade ties have grown steadily since 2022, with Afghanistan importing Russian oil, gas, and wheat—an economic lifeline for a country grappling with isolation and sanctions.

From Moscow’s perspective, Afghanistan also presents opportunities for deeper economic involvement in energy, infrastructure, and agriculture, sectors in which Russia seeks strategic influence. The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized that recognition would catalyze bilateral cooperation and serve mutual interests in security and commerce.

However, this recognition does not come without risk. It places Russia in direct contrast with Western powers that remain critical of the Taliban’s domestic policies, particularly its treatment of women. The Taliban’s closure of girls’ schools and universities, coupled with restrictions on women’s movement and employment, have kept doors closed in many international forums. Western diplomats argue that no meaningful recognition can occur without tangible reforms in these areas.

Russia’s decision signals a broader trend of realpolitik over idealism in its foreign policy. This could prompt other nations, particularly those in the Global South or with strained ties to the West, to reconsider their stance toward the Taliban. It also introduces new complexities into an already volatile regional balance, with China and Iran watching closely as Russia consolidates its role in shaping Afghanistan’s post-Western engagement

Ultimately, Russia’s move reflects a world where strategic necessity increasingly trumps moral judgment in foreign policy. For the Taliban, it is a symbolic and potentially transformative breakthrough. For the international community, it’s a test of how far nations are willing to go in recalibrating norms in pursuit of geopolitical gain.

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