The Kremlin has expressed understanding of Kyrgyzstan’s decision to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, according to remarks by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Speaking to the Russian news agency TASS, Peskov emphasized the importance of maintaining relations with Afghanistan’s de facto rulers. “Kyrgyzstan is located very close to Afghanistan,” Peskov said. “It’s important for neighbors to maintain relations with the actual authorities. It’s a necessity because otherwise, it’s impossible to build any ties.”
Peskov’s comments follow a similar statement by Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, who noted that both the Foreign Ministry and Justice Ministry of Russia had submitted a proposal to President Vladimir Putin to consider removing the Taliban from Russia’s list of terrorist organizations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also acknowledged that such a move would reflect the “objective reality” on the ground.
The issue of the Taliban’s international status remains contentious, particularly at the United Nations. A recent UN Security Council report revealed divisions among its members regarding Afghanistan. While several countries, including the United States and its allies, have emphasized concerns over human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls, Russia and China have framed such issues as internal matters for Afghanistan to resolve.
