Key points
- Russia has formally recognised the Interim Afghan Government
- Both Russian and Afghan officials hailed the move as a step toward strengthening ties
- Afghanistan’s Mawlawi Gul Hasan assumes duties in Moscow
ISLAMABAD: Russia has officially recognised the Interim Afghan Government, Russian President’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, told the Russian state-owned RIA Novosti news agency on Thursday.
The interim Afghan government’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed the move, stating that Russian Ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov met with Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and conveyed Moscow’s decision, emphasizing “the importance of this decision”. Zhirnov described it as “a historic step towards strengthening relations between the two countries.”
The Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Mr. Dmitry Zhirnov, called on IEA-Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi.
During the meeting, the Ambassador of Russian Federation officially conveyed his government’s decision to recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, pic.twitter.com/wCbJKpZYwm
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Afghanistan (@MoFA_Afg) July 3, 2025
Anadolu News Agency cited the interim Afghan government’s Foreign Ministry as saying: “With this step, bilateral relations between the two countries will further expand.”
Muttaqi expressed hope that it would lead to enhanced cooperation and “would also further strengthen cooperation between Afghanistan and Russia.”
Ambassador to Moscow
A statement issued by the interim Afghan government’s Foreign Ministry on Friday said: The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to the Russian Federation, Mawlawi Gul Hasan, officially commenced his duties during an introductory meeting with the embassy staff.
“During the meeting, Ambassador Mawlawi Gul Hasan emphasized that he would conduct the embassy’s affairs with utmost commitment and full cooperation with the staff in accordance with his entrusted responsibilities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers the accreditation of the ambassador by the Russian Federation to be a significant step, and expresses hope that this important development will further broaden and strengthen relations between the two countries in political, economic, and other domains,” the statement added.
“A full-fledged partnership”
Zhirnov told state TV channel, Rossiya-1, that the decision was made by President Vladimir Putin at the suggestion of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
“It demonstrates Russia’s sincere desire to establish a full-fledged partnership with Afghanistan,” he said.
Russia has taken the lead as the first country to formally recognise the interim Afghan government.
No UN member state had recognised the interim Afghan government in Kabul since its return to power in August 2021.
Impetus to ties
Earlier Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it received copies of the credentials of Afghanistan’s newly-appointed ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan, Anadolu News Agency reported.
“We believe that the act of official recognition of the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in various fields,” it said.
