A Russian delegation, led by Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, met on Monday with Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, and Yaqoob Mujahid, the Taliban’s defense minister, to discuss Afghanistan’s political, security, and economic situation. According to a statement from the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior, Patrushev indicated that Russia is in the final stages of removing the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations.
The Taliban quoted Patrushev as expressing optimism that the delisting process would be completed “in a short time.” Russian officials reportedly emphasized the importance of Afghanistan’s stability to the broader region.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, during the meeting, claimed that the war in Afghanistan had ended and that “all factors of instability have been eliminated.” He urged neighboring countries to seize the opportunity to engage with Afghanistan under the Taliban’s rule.
Separately, the Taliban’s Ministry of Defense reported that Patrushev and other Russian officials also held discussions with Yaqoob Mujahid, focusing on expanding cooperation in economic, trade, and security sectors, among other areas of mutual interest. The Taliban expressed their appreciation for Russia’s efforts to remove the Taliban from its terrorist designation.
The meetings with Haqqani and Mujahid follow prior engagements between Russian officials and other senior Taliban leaders, including Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy prime minister for economic affairs, and Abdul Kabir, the deputy prime minister for political affairs.
The Taliban have sought to improve their standing on the international stage, though they continue to face widespread criticism for their human rights record, particularly regarding women and minorities.
