Russia has pledged support to the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan in their efforts to combat the Afghan branch of the Islamic State group, known as ISIS-K, according to Moscow’s special envoy to the country.
Zamir Kabulov, a former Russian ambassador to Afghanistan, described ISIS-K as a “common enemy” of both Moscow and Kabul in an interview with Russia’s RIA state news agency.
“We acknowledge and value the Taliban’s actions against ISIS’s Afghan wing,” Kabulov stated. “We will extend all possible support to the Afghan authorities through our specialized institutions.”
No country currently recognises the Taliban government that seized power in August 2021 as US-led forces staged a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.
But in a step towards recognition, Russia last month formally removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations, to which it had been added in 2003.
Kabulov’s comments underscore the dramatic rapprochement in recent years between Moscow and Kabul, which President Vladimir Putin said last year was now Russia’s “ally” in combating terrorism.
Russia has been left reeling from multiple Islamic State (ISIS)-linked attacks, including the shooting of 145 people at a concert hall outside Moscow in March 2024 which was claimed by ISIS. US officials said they had intelligence indicating ISIS-K was responsible.
The Taliban says it is working to wipe out the group’s presence in Afghanistan.
Kabulov said Moscow and Kabul were building up ties in multiple spheres and told RIA that Russia had offered to accredit an Afghan ambassador in Moscow and was waiting for Kabul’s response.
He said Moscow’s suspension of the ban on the Taliban “finally removes all obstacles to full cooperation between our countries in various fields”.
“The arrival of the Afghan ambassador in Moscow will put a final end to this issue.”
Russia said last month it aims to strengthen trade, business and investment ties with Kabul, leveraging Afghanistan’s strategic position for future energy and infrastructure projects.
Kabulov said joint economic projects would be discussed at a Russia-Afghan business forum later this month in the Russian city of Kazan, naming mineral development and gas pipeline projects as possible areas of cooperation.
Source: Dunya News
