KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Thursday that Russia has formally recognized their “Islamic Emirate,” a claim that, if confirmed, would mark the first official recognition of the Taliban regime by any country since their return to power in 2021.
According to the ministry’s statement, Russian Ambassador to Kabul Dmitry Zhirnov conveyed Moscow’s decision during a meeting with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on July 3.
The statement quoted Zhirnov as calling the move a “historic step” toward strengthening bilateral relations between Russia and Afghanistan.
Muttaqi welcomed the announcement, describing it as the beginning of a new phase of “positive relations, mutual respect, and constructive engagement.” He added that Russia’s “pragmatic decision” would be remembered as a milestone in the history of Afghan-Russian ties and could serve as a model for other nations.
However, the Russian government has yet to publicly confirm any official recognition of the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate rulers.
If verified, Russia would become the first country to formally recognize the Taliban government since the group seized power nearly four years ago following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces.
In recent months, Moscow has taken steps to deepen its engagement with the Taliban, including removing the group from its list of banned organizations and accepting a Taliban-appointed envoy as ambassador to Russia.
Despite these developments, the Taliban remain unrecognized by the broader international community and the United Nations.
During the group’s first rule in the 1990s, only three countries, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, recognized the Taliban regime.
