MOSCOW: Russia has expressed understanding and support for Kyrgyzstan’s decision to remove the Afghan Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, citing the close geographic and political ties between the two countries.
Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the Russian President, highlighted the importance of fostering relationships with Afghanistan’s current authorities.
On September 2, Kyrgyzstan’s General Prosecutor’s Office updated its list of prohibited organizations, excluding the Taliban. This move has been met with approval from the Taliban, who view it as a step toward greater regional and international recognition.
Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi hailed the decision, calling it a positive development for political relations in the region.
Despite this shift, the Taliban government remains unrecognized by any country nearly three years after regaining control of Afghanistan, isolating the group on the global stage.
The recent UN Security Council report, however, casts a shadow over these developments. It raises concerns about the ongoing “terrorist threat” in Afghanistan, documenting increased cooperation between the Taliban and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in cross-border attacks, particularly targeting Pakistani military positions.
The UNSC report also notes heightened international worries about terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, including strengthened ties between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups.
The report indicates that these alliances are fueling a more coordinated terrorist effort under the banner of “Tehrik-e-Jihad Pakistan” and warns of Al-Qaeda’s attempts to forge connections with regional extremist groups to expand operations into Central Asia.
