Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the necessity of engaging with the Taliban, given their control over Afghanistan. Speaking in Tashkent on Tuesday, May 28th, Putin remarked, “We must base our actions on the current reality and build relationships accordingly. These individuals govern Afghanistan and its territory.”

Putin acknowledged the widespread awareness of the challenges facing Afghanistan without delving into specifics. Despite designating the Taliban as a terrorist organization in 2003, Moscow has maintained informal diplomatic ties with the group. Putin stated, “The question of how to establish relations with the Taliban remains, but we must find a way to engage with them.”

He highlighted ongoing consultations with regional partners, including those in Central Asia, regarding relations with the Taliban. “We consider the perspectives of our partners and friends and will coordinate our approach accordingly,” Putin added.

These comments followed discussions with the President of Iran about potentially removing the Taliban from Russia’s list of banned organizations. Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, indicated that recognizing the Taliban government is now a more likely prospect than ever before.