Russia is the first to recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan

Russia became the first country to officially recognize the Taliban rules, and Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaki called it a “bold” decision.

On Thursday he met with Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zharnov to Kabul, Thursday, Where Mr. Zhirnov officially conveyed his government’s decision to recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Mutaki said it was “a new phase of positive relationships, mutual respect and constructive activity,” and that this shift would be an “example” for other countries.

The Taliban sought international recognition and investment because they returned to power in August 2021, despite reports of increased human rights violations.

“We believe that the act of official recognition of the Islamic emirate of Afghanistan will give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

It states that Russia saw the potential of “commercial and economic” cooperation in “energy, transportation, agriculture and infrastructure”, and that it will continue to help Kabul fight the threats of terrorism and drug trafficking.

Russia was one of the very few countries that did not close its embassy in Afghanistan in 2021, and stated in the telegram that “expanding dialogue with Kabul” was crucial in terms of regional security and economic development.

The country was also the first to sign an international economic deal with the Taliban in 2022, where they agreed to supply oil, gas and wheat to Afghanistan.

In April this year, the Taliban was removed from the list of terrorist organizations of Russia with the intention of laying the way to create a “full partnership” with Kabul, the Russian Foreign Ministry reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also called the Taliban “ally” in the fight against terrorism last July, and representatives went to Moscow for talks back in 2018.

In both countries there is a difficult story after the Soviet Union broke into the country in 1979 and waged a nine -year war that cost them 15,000 employees.

The decision to establish a government supported by the USSR in Kabul turned the Soviets into international paria, and they eventually left Afghanistan in February 1989.

Western governments and humanitarian organizations have widely condemned the Taliban government, in particular for their implementation of Sharia, which puts great restrictions on women and girls.

Over the past four years, women have been forbidden to access secondary and higher education, unable to leave their homes without male Shaperon and are subject to a strict DRES.

Legislation is becoming increasingly restrictive, with the latest setting of “virtue” laws forbiding women to act on the house.

The United Nations said the rules are “gender apartheid”, as well as reporting public funds and harsh attacks on former state officials.

Strict sanctions were placed in Afghanistan in 2021 by the United Nations Security Council, primarily freezing about $ 9 billion.

While in China, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Pakistan, all appointed ambassadors to Kabul, Russia is now the only country that has recognized the Taliban government since returning to power almost four years ago.