The director of the Russian FSB, Alexander Bortnikov, stated that Russia is close to completing the process of removing the Taliban movement (banned in the Russian Federation) from the list of terrorist organizations. This statement was made at the 55th meeting of the Council of Heads of Security Agencies and Special Services of the CIS States. Bortnikov noted that Afghan authorities are taking steps to restore order and stabilize the country, prompting Russia to review the status of the Taliban.
He stressed the importance of pragmatic cooperation with the Afghan intelligence services, especially in the fight against international terrorist organizations, drug trafficking and weapons smuggling. According to Bortnikov, interaction with the Taliban is of mutual interest for Russia, especially in the context of the fight against the Afghan wing of ISIS, Vilayat Khorasan, which, according to him, receives support from the West.
The context for this decision is that the Taliban took over Afghanistan virtually unopposed in August 2021, after the United States and its allies withdrew from the country. Although the movement is not internationally recognized as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, many countries, including Russia, China and Iran, maintain diplomatic relations with it.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also previously noted that the Taliban, being the de facto power in Afghanistan, is an important ally in the fight against terrorism. He stressed that, despite the problems that persist, it is necessary to build relationships with the Afghan authorities based on current realities.
Russia therefore sees cooperation with the Taliban not only as a necessity in the fight against terrorist threats, but also as a potential to strengthen stability in the region. Let us remember that the leader of the radical Taliban group, Hibatullah Akhundzada, prohibited women from speaking and showing their faces in public places.
