The Russian Supreme Court annulled the Taliban’s designation as a terrorist organization, eliminating legal barriers to establishing formal relations between Moscow and the de facto Afghan government. The Kremlin aims to leverage its Taliban ties to bolster its geopolitical and economic posture in the Central Asian region. While Moscow seeks to curb the threat of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISK), the Taliban continues to give free rein to designated terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and others of its ilk. The potential recognition of the Taliban by Moscow may further embolden ISK, which has leveraged Kabul’s international outreach as propaganda fodder.
Moscow’s Taliban Rapprochement: High-Risk Realpolitik – The Soufan Center
