A high-level Russian delegation led by Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, arrived in Kabul on Monday for discussions with Taliban officials on strengthening bilateral relations.
The visit highlighted potential areas of collaboration, including trade, transit, and investment, according to statements from the Taliban.
Shoigu met with Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s Deputy Chief Minister for Economic Affairs, expressing Russia’s interest in deepening cooperation under Taliban rule. He reportedly assured Baradar that Moscow is moving toward removing the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations to pave the way for enhanced political and economic engagement.
The discussions covered a range of topics, including political relations, economic partnerships, and Russian investment in sectors such as mining, transportation, and agriculture. Shoigu also emphasized Russia’s support for the Afghan-Trans project, which seeks to boost Afghanistan’s role in regional connectivity.
Baradar, for his part, highlighted the Taliban’s commitment to banning narcotics cultivation and eliminating security threats in Afghanistan and the region. “We are working to create opportunities for Afghanistan to export to the region and beyond,” Baradar said, emphasizing Afghanistan’s desire to play a key role in strengthening the North-South economic corridor.
Interest in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
In a separate meeting with Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s Political Deputy Chief Minister, Shoigu voiced Russia’s intention to restore Afghanistan’s observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) under Taliban leadership. Russian officials, including Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov, also participated in these talks alongside Taliban intelligence director Abdul Haq Wassiq.
The Russian delegation’s visit coincides with ongoing diplomatic efforts by China and Iran. Special envoys from these nations are currently in Kabul, marking a rare political gathering of representatives from three U.S. rivals since Donald Trump’s recent election victory.
China’s Special Envoy Yue Xiaoyong met with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi earlier this week to express China’s interest in economic cooperation. Russia and China have yet to disclose full details of their meetings, but analysts suggest these engagements reflect a coordinated effort by the three nations to address shared concerns over Afghanistan’s stability and limit U.S. influence in the region.
Political experts see these developments as part of a broader regional strategy. “All evidence suggests that the primary rivals of the United States—Russia, Iran, and China—are compelled to re-engage with the Taliban to prevent future U.S. influence in Afghanistan,” said Akmal Baqa, a university professor.
Nasrullah Stanikzai, an expert in international relations, believes these countries are aligning their policies not only toward Afghanistan but also the broader region. “The urgency stems from the possibility that these nations might eventually engage with the Taliban in a unified manner,” he said.
While regional powers deepen ties with the Taliban, Western nations are exploring their own strategies. In Doha, Afghanistan’s former Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai met with representatives from the U.S., U.K., Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Finland.
In a statement on X, Khalil Karzai described the meeting, hosted by the British ambassador, as “productive.” He added, “We shared perspectives on Afghanistan and explored areas for continued engagement.”
