Russia Offers Support to Taliban in Fight Against ISIS in Afghanistan

Russia has announced its readiness to assist the Taliban in combating ISIS-Khorasan, the Islamic State affiliate active in Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported. Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, emphasized the shared threat ISIS poses to both Moscow and Kabul during a May 2 interview with RIA Novosti. He praised the Taliban’s efforts against ISIS and expressed Russia’s intent to provide specialized support through relevant institutions.

This move follows several ISIS-related attacks in Russia, including a deadly 2024 concert hall shooting near Moscow that killed 145 people. Recently, Russia removed the Taliban from its terrorist organizations list, signaling a pragmatic shift in policy despite not officially recognizing the Taliban government. Moscow has also expressed willingness to receive a Taliban ambassador.

Russia’s cooperation with the Taliban includes intelligence sharing and counterterrorism coordination aimed at preventing ISIS-Khorasan’s expansion in Central Asia. Moscow reportedly continues to engage with regional partners to stabilize Afghanistan and curb extremist threats along its southern borders.