Putin regards Taliban as "allies in the fight against terrorism"
Russia's President Vladimir Putin sees the Taliban, who are in power in Afghanistan, as "allies in the fight against terrorism." "We must assume that the Taliban are in control of the power in the country. And in this sense, the Taliban are naturally our allies in the fight against terrorism, because every government is interested in stability in the state it governs," Putin said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kazakhstan in front of journalists.
The Taliban have been fighting the Islamic State militia in Afghanistan and Central Asia (ISPK) for years. In March, fighters from the militia carried out an attack on a concert hall near Moscow, killing over 140 people. It was the deadliest attack in Russia since almost two decades.
Putin stated that the Taliban have "assumed some responsibility," but there are still problems that require constant attention both within the country and from the international community. "I am sure that the Taliban are interested in a stable situation in Afghanistan," added the Russian president.
Since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Russia has been strengthening its relations with the country, with which it has a complex history following the Soviet invasion in the 1980s. However, the Taliban government and the so-called "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" are not officially recognized. After regaining power, the radical Islamic Taliban have reintroduced a strict interpretation of Islamic law in Afghanistan and have largely banned women from public life.
- Despite the Taliban's controversial policies, Putin continues to view them as potential allies in the fight against terrorism, given their confrontations with groups like the Islamic State militia.
- With the US departure from Afghanistan in 2021, Putin has been vigorously strengthening Russia's relationship with the Taliban-led government, despite the international community's non-recognition.
- In light of the Taliban's assumption of power and responsibility in Afghanistan, Putin advocates for constant attention to the country's internal issues and international cooperation in maintaining stability.
