Russia and Taliban-led Afghanistan move to deepen diplomatic ties
Taliban to appoint envoy to Moscow as Russia moves to formalize ties with Afghanistan’s interim government
KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — The Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan has announced it will soon appoint an ambassador to Moscow, signaling a deepening of diplomatic engagement with Russia amid growing ties between the two countries.
The announcement followed a visit to Kabul by Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, who held high-level meetings with Taliban officials, including acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, TOLOnews reports.
According to Zia Ahmad Takal, spokesperson for the Taliban’s ministry of foreign affairs, Muttaqi thanked Russia for accepting a Taliban-appointed diplomat and said Kabul would “soon introduce a representative at the ambassadorial level” to Moscow.
Kabulov also confirmed that a bilateral commission will be launched during a meeting in May, on the sidelines of the upcoming Kazan Summit, to formalize cooperation across multiple sectors.
In a separate meeting with Sirajuddin Haqqani, Kabulov discussed security, economic ties, and trade cooperation.
The Taliban’s Interior Ministry spokesperson, Abdul Matin Qani, wrote on social media that both parties agreed to expand engagement to the “embassy level,” calling Moscow’s diplomatic overture a “significant step toward acknowledging Afghanistan’s political realities.”
While Russia has not formally recognized the Taliban-led government, the engagement marks another step in its pragmatic approach to dealing with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities.
Russia’s Supreme Court recently suspended the classification of the Taliban as a banned organization, effectively clearing a legal path for deeper official contact—though full recognition remains off the table for now.
Political observers say the move has broader implications.
“Accepting an ambassador does not equal formal recognition,” said analyst Muin Gul Samkani, noting that China had previously taken a similar step.
“But it shows that ties are becoming more structured.”
Another analyst, Idris Mohammadi Zazai, emphasized the potential for economic and political cooperation.
“The relationship is entering a phase of interaction,” he said, suggesting that trade fairs and embassy reopening could soon follow.
Enayatullah Adel, also a political analyst, argued that such diplomacy should not be limited to Moscow.
“Engagement with Russia is important, but wider outreach is needed for the Islamic Emirate to gain broader legitimacy,” he said.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
