Russian Foreign Ministry upgrades the Taliban’s diplomatic representation, prepares to receive its ambassador in Moscow

On Apr. 23, Russian Presidential Special Envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov and Russian Ambassador to Kabul Dmitry Zhirnov held meetings with Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Afghan leadership was informed of Moscow’s decision to upgrade Afghanistan's diplomatic mission in Russia to ambassadorial status, a move that follows from a Russian Supreme Court ruling that suspended the ban on Taliban activities in Russia.

During their talks, the two sides also discussed strengthening bilateral relations and expanding economic and trade ties. Afghanistan's acting foreign minister thanked Russia for removing the Taliban from the list of terrorist organizations.

To further the development of bilateral relations, the countries will hold an ad-hoc meeting in May on the margins of the “Russia-Islamic World Kazan Forum,” where the Russia-Afghanistan Permanent Commission will begin its work. Amir Khan Muttaqi described the event as a new phase in the relations between the two countries. Earlier, the Taliban Foreign Ministry announced plans to send an ambassador to Russia in the near future.

Russia's Supreme Court recognized the Taliban as a terrorist organization in 2003, a decision motivated by the history of the movement, which emerged in Afghanistan in 1994 as an extremist Islamic group with ties to illegal armed groups in Chechnya.