Russia clears Afghan Taliban from list of banned terrorist groups

Russia’s Supreme Court has officially lifted the ban on the Afghan Taliban, removing the group from its list of designated terrorist organizations after more than two decades, Arab News reported. The Taliban, outlawed by Russia as a terrorist movement since 2003, now faces no legal restrictions in Russia following the court’s ruling on Thursday.

This decision marks a significant step toward Moscow normalizing relations with the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, which seized power in August 2021 after the withdrawal of US-led forces.

While no country currently recognizes the Taliban government formally, Russia has gradually developed ties with the group. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the Taliban as an ally in combating terrorism during 2024. The move comes amid growing security concerns for Russia, particularly from Islamist militant groups operating across regions from Afghanistan to the Middle East.

In March 2024, a deadly attack at a concert hall near Moscow, which killed 145 people, was claimed by Daesh (ISIS). US intelligence attributed the attack to Daesh Khorasan (Daesh-K), the Afghan branch of the extremist group. The Taliban has publicly committed to eradicating Daesh’s presence in Afghanistan, aligning with Russia’s interest in regional stability.

However, Western diplomats caution that international recognition of the Taliban remains stalled due to the group’s restrictive policies on women’s rights. Since taking power, the Taliban has closed educational institutions for girls and imposed strict controls on women’s movement, citing their interpretation of Islamic law.