KABUL (SW) – Russia, one of the few countries maintaining relatively good relations with the Islamic Emirate, has yet to officially recognize this government and still lists the Islamic Emirate on its terrorism blacklist.
Recently, Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special representative for Afghanistan told the country’s media that the Russian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice have reported to President Vladimir Putin regarding the potential removal of the Islamic Emirate’s name from the list of terrorist organizations.
This move has been welcomed by the Islamic Emirate. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, expressed approval of Russia’s initiative and emphasized the importance of expanding international engagement with the Islamic Emirate’s government.
“The removal of obstacles by Russia in interacting with the Islamic Emirate is beneficial for both countries and Afghanistan. We hope other nations will take similar steps and remove barriers that hinder positive engagement with the Islamic Emirate,” Mujahid said.
However, Russia’s special representative for Afghanistan stressed that certain challenges need to be addressed before the Islamic Emirate can be officially recognized.
Meanwhile, Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, in a recent speech, referred to the Islamic Emirate as the only real power in Afghanistan and assured ongoing efforts to remove the government’s name from Russia’s blacklist.
Additionally, Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, in a recent speech, referred to the Islamic Emirate as the only real power in Afghanistan and assured ongoing efforts to remove the government’s name from Russia’s blacklist.
Islamuddin Ma’araj, a political analyst, commented on Russia’s approach towards Afghanistan, saying, “Russia’s policy towards Afghanistan is based not only on international commitments but also on good neighborliness and the geopolitical importance of Afghanistan.”
Abdul Qadir Qanat, another political analyst, added, “Russians aim to align with countries opposing the United States, and Afghanistan is among such countries they want to strengthen ties with.”
Experts also emphasize that for the Islamic Emirate to gain global recognition, certain reforms within the country are necessary.
Ajmal Zurmati, an international relations expert, said, “The leaders of the Islamic Emirate need to implement significant structural changes in the political framework. They must learn from the past that a lack of recognition leads to isolation, and countries will continue to label Afghanistan negatively, which is detrimental to both the Islamic Emirate and the Afghan people.”
In a related development, Kazakhstan previously announced its readiness to remove the Islamic Emirate from its blacklist, signaling a potential shift in regional policies towards Afghanistan.
