Taliban’s foreign ministry claimed on Thursday that Dmitry Zhirnov, the Russian ambassador to Kabul, informed their foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, that the Russian Federation had formally recognized the Taliban administration.
In a statement released by the Taliban, Zhirnov was quoted as calling the announcement “a historic step toward strengthening ties” between the two sides.
Muttaqi described the reported recognition as “a major milestone in the history of our relations,” adding that “this acknowledgment will serve as a model for other countries to follow.”
“This decision will expand bilateral cooperation and usher in a new era of constructive engagement between Afghanistan and Russia,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Russian foreign ministry said on Thursday that it had accepted the credentials of the Taliban’s newly appointed ambassador to Moscow, becoming the first country to formally recognize the Taliban administration since its return to power in Afghanistan nearly four years ago.
To date, no nation has officially recognized the Taliban regime. The international community continues to insist that normalization of relations be contingent on the Taliban’s respect for human rights, especially those of women and girls.
