Medical and Hospital News
THE STANS
Russia becomes first country to recognise Taliban govt
Russia becomes first country to recognise Taliban govt
By Susannah Walden and Aysha Safi
Kabul (AFP) July 4, 2025

Afghanistan's government said on Thursday that Russia had become the first country to officially recognise its rule, calling it a "brave decision".

The Taliban swept back to power in 2021 after ousting the foreign-backed government and have imposed an austere version of Islamic law.

They have keenly sought official international recognition and investment, as the country recovers from four decades of war, including the Soviet invasion from 1979 to 1989.

The announcement was made after Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, in Kabul on Thursday.

"This brave decision will be an example for others... Now that the process of recognition has started, Russia was ahead of everyone," Muttaqi said in a video of the meeting on X.

"Russia is the first country which has officially recognised the Islamic Emirate," Taliban foreign ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal told AFP, using the government's name for their administration.

Muttaqi said it was "a new phase of positive relations, mutual respect, and constructive engagement", the foreign ministry posted on X.

Russia's foreign ministry added on Telegram: "We believe that the act of official recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will boost the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in several areas."

It highlighted potential "commercial and economic" cooperation in "energy, transportation, agriculture and infrastructure".

The ministry said that Moscow hoped to continue helping Kabul "reinforce regional security and fight against the threats of terrorism and drug-trafficking".

Moscow has taken recent steps to normalise relations with the Taliban authorities, removing them from a list of "terrorist organisations" in April and accepting a Taliban ambassador in Kabul.

In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Taliban "allies in the fight against terrorism".

Russia was the first country to open a business representative office in Kabul after the Taliban takeover, and has announced plans to use Afghanistan as a transit hub for gas heading to Southeast Asia.

- 'Allies' -

Only Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates recognised the Taliban during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001.

This time, multiple other states, including China and Pakistan, have accepted Taliban ambassadors in their capitals, but have not officially recognised the Islamic Emirate since the end of the then-insurgency's two-decade war with US-led NATO troops.

There has been limited but growing engagement with the Taliban authorities, particularly from regional neighbours, but also major global players China and Russia.

China on Friday said it welcomed Russia's decision.

"As a traditional friendly neighbour of Afghanistan, the Chinese side has always believed that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.

However, restrictions on women and girls, barring them from education and squeezing them from public life, have been key sticking points for Western nations.

Multiple Afghan women activists were quick to condemn Russia's recognition.

The move "legitimizes a regime that bans girls from education, enforces public floggings, and shelters UN-sanctioned terrorists", said Mariam Solaimankhil, former member of Afghanistan's parliament.

"The move signals that strategic interests will always outweigh human rights and international law."

Senior Taliban figures remain under international sanctions, including by the United Nations.

Another former MP in Kabul, Fawzia Koofi, said any recognition of the Taliban "will not bring peace it will legitimize impunity" and "risk endangering not just the people of Afghanistan, but global security".

Related Links
News From Across The Stans

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
THE STANS
Kurdish PKK fighters to destroy weapons in 'goodwill' act: commanders
Sulaimaniyah, Iraq (AFP) July 1, 2025
Fighters from the Kurdistan Workers' Party will soon destroy their weapons as a "goodwill gesture" to signal their commitment to disarming after decades of conflict with Turkey, two commanders said. The planned disarmament marks a turning point in the militant group's transition from armed insurgency to political negotiation, as part of a broader effort to end one of the region's longest-running conflicts. The group declared an end to its armed campaign in May - a conflict that has claimed more ... read more

THE STANS
Texas floods: Misinformation across political spectrum sows confusion

UN aid meeting seeks end to Global South debt crisis

Search for woman who texted 'we're being washed away' in Texas flood

Pentagon to erect 4th military zone along U.S.-Mexico border

THE STANS
ESA and Neuraspace develop autonomous satellite navigation technologies

Bogong moths rely on stars and magnetic fields to guide epic migrations

Breakthrough hybrid model restores orbit accuracy for BeiDou-3 satellites

SpaceX launches advanced GPS satellite for Space Force

THE STANS
Beyond male dominance in primates new study redefines gender power roles

Light travels through entire human head in breakthrough for optical brain imaging

Human brain reveals hidden action cues AI still fails to grasp

Deforestation in S.Leone national park threatens chimps, humans alike

THE STANS
How plants forge microbial alliances to thrive under stress

'Frogging' takes off in Borneo's jungle

'Demonised': Polish scientists warn of fear mongering about wolves

Spotted: endangered leopard in Bangladesh

THE STANS
China probes Wuhan ex-mayor who presided over Covid response

WHO says all Covid-19 origin theories still open, after inconclusive study

Deadly dengue fever impacts climate-hit Bangladesh coast

After quitting WHO, US urges others to 'consider joining us': Kennedy

THE STANS
After the revolution, Bangladesh warms to China as India fumes

China's abandoned buildings draw urban explorers despite risks

Hong Kong opposition party says it will disband

Tibetans face uncertain future as Dalai Lama turns 90; How the Dalai Lama is identified

THE STANS
Blast kills six soldiers in Mexican cartel zone

Trump attends memecoin gala as protesters slam 'crypto corruption'

U.S. blacklists two alleged high-ranking Cartel del Noreste members

Trump hosts gala for memecoin buyers despite corruption concerns

THE STANS
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.