Russia takes step towards recognising Afghanistan's Taliban government

Russia moved a step closer towards recognising the Taliban government of Afghanistan on Tuesday as parliament voted in favour of a law that would make it possible to remove the Taliban from Moscow's list of banned terrorist organisations.

Parliament's lower house, the Duma, approved the bill in the first of three required readings, Interfax news agency said.

 

No country currently recognises the Taliban government which seized power in August 2021 as U.S.-led forces staged a chaotic withdrawal after 20 years of war. But Russia has been gradually building ties with the movement, which President Vladimir Putin said in July was now an ally in fighting terrorism.