Russia first to recognize Taliban's rule

Russia on Thursday became the first nation to officially recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan since the group took control in 2021, following Moscow's decision to remove the Taliban from its list of banned organizations, reports UNB.

The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed it had accepted the credentials of Afghanistan's newly appointed Ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan. In a statement, the ministry said this formal recognition would help promote "productive bilateral cooperation."

Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry described the move as historic, quoting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who welcomed the decision as "a good example for other countries."

The Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in August 2021 after U.S. and NATO troops withdrew. Since then, they have been pushing for international recognition while enforcing a strict version of Islamic law.

Until now, no country had formally recognized the Taliban regime, though the group maintained diplomatic contacts and held high-level discussions with several countries, including China and the United Arab Emirates.

Despite those efforts, the Taliban government has remained largely isolated globally, primarily due to its severe restrictions on women.

Although the Taliban initially pledged a more moderate rule compared to their first period in power from 1996 to 2001, they began imposing strict limitations on women and girls shortly after the 2021 takeover. Women are barred from most jobs and public spaces, such as parks, gyms, and bathhouses, while girls are prohibited from education beyond grade six.