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Less than a twelvemonth aft formally recognising the Taliban authorities successful Afghanistan, Russia has present signed a subject practice statement with Kabul. According to Politico, the statement was signed connected Wednesday during a gathering betwixt Afghan Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqoub and Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu astatine the International Security Forum successful Moscow.
While the nonstop details of the pact stay unclear, Yaqoub described it arsenic an enlargement of bilateral relations betwixt the 2 nations.“Interaction with Russia is important for us,” Yaqoub said aft the meeting. “Afghanistan and Russia person long-standing and historical relations, and we privation to determination guardant successful this direction.”The improvement marks a striking reversal successful relations betwixt Moscow and Kabul. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan successful 1979 and spent a decennary warring the mujahideen, galore of whom aboriginal formed the Taliban.
Relations remained hostile for years aft Soviet troops withdrew, though Russia was aboriginal accused of softly supporting Taliban factions pursuing the US penetration of Afghanistan.Shoigu besides urged Western nations to “unfreeze” sanctions connected the Taliban and “fully admit their afloat work for their 20-year beingness successful Afghanistan”.Russia had already taken a large measurement towards legitimising the Taliban successful 2025.
In April 2025, Moscow removed the Taliban from its database of banned violent organisations, ending a designation that had existed since 2003. Then, successful July 2025, Russia became the archetypal state successful the satellite to officially recognise the Taliban authorities since the radical seized powerfulness successful Afghanistan pursuing the withdrawal of US and NATO forces successful 2021.The Russian overseas ministry said astatine the clip that recognising the Taliban medication would amended “productive bilateral cooperation”.
Taliban overseas curate Amir Khan Muttaqi called the determination a “historic step” and said it acceptable “a bully illustration for different countries”.
What the Russia-Taliban concern means for India
For India, the increasing closeness betwixt Russia and the Taliban could contiguous strategical advantages. New Delhi has traditionally maintained beardown ties with Moscow, portion besides reopening channels with the Taliban successful caller years to support its determination interests and investments successful Afghanistan.
Taliban overseas curate Amir Khan Muttaqi had visitied India successful 2025.A Russia-backed Taliban authorities whitethorn make much diplomatic abstraction for India to grow engagement with Kabul without formally recognising the regime. It besides reduces the hazard of Afghanistan falling wholly nether the power of Pakistan oregon China.The improvement whitethorn besides assistance India’s semipermanent ambitions of improving connectivity with Central Asia done Afghanistan portion bypassing Pakistan.
Why it whitethorn beryllium atrocious quality for Pakistan
The Russia-Taliban concern could besides weaken Pakistan’s accepted power implicit Afghanistan. Islamabad was erstwhile regarded arsenic the Taliban’s closest ally, but ties betwixt the 2 sides person deteriorated sharply successful caller years amid borderline clashes, militant unit and aerial strikes.Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban of sheltering anti-Pakistan militants, portion Kabul has criticised Islamabad’s subject actions on the border.Pakistan-Afghanistan ties deed stone bottommost earlier this twelvemonth aft Kabul accused Islamabad of carrying retired deadly airstrikes connected Afghan territory, including a arguable bombing of a cause rehabilitation infirmary successful the Afghan capital. Taliban officials claimed much than 400 radical were killed successful the strike, though Pakistan denied targeting civilians and said it was attacking militant infrastructure linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).The situation followed months of escalating tensions, cross-border shelling and drone strikes on the disputed Durand Line border. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban authorities of sheltering anti-Pakistan militants, portion Kabul has rejected the allegations and accused Islamabad of violating Afghan sovereignty.
