MOSCOW (AP) – The Russian Supreme Court on Thursday lifted a ban on Afghanistan's rule over the Taliban, designated as a terrorist group more than two decades ago.
The move was a diplomatic victory for the Taliban, which was included in the Russian terrorist group list in 2003, giving them any contact with Russian law.
Meanwhile, the Taliban delegation participated in various forums chaired by Russia as Moscow tried to position itself as a regional power broker.
The court's ruling on the Office of the Attorney General has previously adopted a law that provides that the court can formally designate it as a terrorist organization.
The former Soviet Union fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan, with Moscow withdrawing troops in 1989.
Russian officials have been highlighting the need to interact with the Taliban to help stabilize Afghanistan.
In recent years, Central Asian countries in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have removed the Taliban from the list of terrorist organizations.
The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, just like the last few weeks of U.S. and NATO forces evacuated from the country after two decades of the war.
The Taliban initially promised a more modest rule than during its first rule between 1996 and 2001, but began to impose restrictions on women and girls shortly after the 2021 acquisition. Women are banned from most work and public places, including parks, bathrooms and gyms, while girls are banned from 6th grade education.
This measure has quarantined the Taliban on the world stage despite their governments establishing diplomatic ties with China and the United Arab Emirates.
The United Nations calls on the Taliban to lift the ban this year.
The organization's laws restrict girls and women's participation, affecting foreign aid in the country. The Taliban also reinterpreted Islamic law or Sharia law, including public executions.
Some Talibans want more participation with the international community and hope to abolish stricter policies to attract more external support. In recent months, participation between the Taliban and the United States has increased under Donald Trump, mainly due to the exchange and release of prisoners.
Ibraheem Bahiss, senior analyst at Crisis Group Asia Program, said the listing of the Taliban terrorist group is a legal barrier to trade and political ties with Kabul, and its enhancement reflects Moscow's desire to improve relations.
“But, besides making it easier for individuals and businesses to interact with Afghanistan, I'm not sure what other major benefits this will bring,” he said.
South Asian analyst Michael Kugelman said Russia's move was not groundbreaking, as many countries have never formally designated the Taliban as a terrorist organization. At the same time, he called this decision a “win-win” in bilateral relations.
He said that for Russia, it would be a confidence-building measure that paves the way for more participation and enables Moscow to better protect its interests in Afghanistan, especially concerns about anti-Russian terrorist groups such as ISIS-Korasan.
“At the same time, for the Taliban, the court's judgment is the result of increasing legitimacy, which they can use to accept internationally,” Kugman observed.
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Associated Press writer Riazat Butt contributed to the report in Islamabad.
