Russia moves to remove Taliban from Terror List

Russia’s parliament on Tuesday approved a bill that could lead to lifting the Taliban's designation as a banned "terrorist" organization, a move signaling Moscow’s evolving relationship with the Afghan rulers.

The State Duma passed legislation outlining a process for removing groups from the list of outlawed "terrorist" organizations.

The bill, which now heads to the upper-house Federation Council and President Vladimir Putin for approval, would establish a legal framework for delisting groups deemed to have ceased terrorist activities.

This step follows Moscow's ongoing courtship of the Taliban, which seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 after the U.S. withdrawal. Russian officials have been pushing to remove the Taliban from the country’s terror list.

However, this would not constitute formal recognition of the Taliban government or its self-declared "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan."

Under the proposed mechanism, Russia’s Prosecutor General could request a court review to determine if a group has ceased support for terrorism. If approved, the group could be removed from the list.

Last month, Russian security officials visiting Kabul informed Taliban leaders of Moscow’s intentions.

President Putin previously referred to the Taliban as "allies in the fight against terrorism," and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has urged the West to lift sanctions on Afghanistan and assume responsibility for its reconstruction.

Kazakhstan, a Russian ally in Central Asia, removed the Taliban from its terror list in late 2023, reflecting growing regional engagement with Afghanistan’s rulers.

The move could bolster diplomatic ties between Moscow and Kabul, as both countries face Western isolation. However, critics point to the Taliban’s enforcement of strict Islamic law, which has largely excluded women from public life, as a significant barrier to broader international recognition.