Taliban stayed diplomatically isolated in 2025 despite Russia recognition

Taliban stayed diplomatically isolated in 2025 despite Russia recognition
—————————-
Afghanistan under Taliban rule remained largely isolated on the world stage in 2025, with the Taliban failing to secure broad international recognition despite limited diplomatic engagement and Russia becoming the only country to formally recognise their administration, Khaama Press reported.

Moscow recognised the Taliban administration in July, a move that Taliban officials hailed as a breakthrough. No other country followed suit, and the decision did not lead to wider normalisation of ties with the international community.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in October that Afghanistan’s current authorities were attempting to stabilise the country but acknowledged that serious problems remained.

The Taliban also hosted several US delegations in Kabul during the year, visits that resulted in the release of a small number of American detainees. However, relations between Washington and the Taliban did not improve, and the United States maintained its refusal to recognise the group.

After returning to office, US President Donald Trump halted American financial assistance to Afghanistan and renewed calls for the return of US military equipment left behind after the 2021 withdrawal, including demands to regain control of Bagram air base.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said members of the Taliban cabinet made 99 foreign trips in 2025, describing them as efforts to expand diplomatic, economic and trade relations. Several of those officials, however, remain under United Nations sanctions, limiting their ability to travel and engage internationally.

Relations with Pakistan, once one of the Taliban’s closest regional partners, deteriorated sharply during the year amid Islamabad’s accusations that Afghan-based militants, including the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), were carrying out cross-border attacks. The Taliban have denied the allegations.

Other countries, including India, Germany and Tajikistan, expanded limited engagement with the Taliban on technical and humanitarian issues, but none moved toward formal recognition.

Inside Afghanistan, political tensions within the Taliban leadership appeared to intensify. United Nations reports pointed to growing divisions between the Kandahar-based leadership under Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and the Haqqani network, led by Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. The reports said Akhundzada was seeking to further centralise power.

In December, Haqqani publicly criticised governance based on fear, saying a government could not survive without trust and consent from the people.

Efforts to resolve Afghanistan’s political deadlock through international mediation also faltered. A United Nations-backed “mosaic” approach, which included proposals on sanctions relief and control of Afghan diplomatic missions, failed to gain traction. The Doha process, aimed at forming an inclusive government and restoring women’s participation in public life, remained stalled and limited to technical discussions on banking and counter-narcotics.

As 2025 ended, Afghanistan continued to face a political stalemate, with the Taliban lacking both domestic consensus and international legitimacy, a situation that analysts say continues to weigh heavily on the country’s economy and humanitarian conditions.