Online Report : In a major policy shift, Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday officially removed the Taliban from its list of designated terrorist organizations.

The move is widely seen as an effort to normalize relations with Afghanistan’s de facto rulers and to open pathways for future diplomatic and economic cooperation.

The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US forces and the collapse of the internationally recognized Afghan government. Since then, Russia has steadily moved toward engaging the group, calling the US withdrawal a “failure” and eyeing the Taliban as both a regional ally and a counter-terrorism partner.

According to Russia`s state-run news agency TASS, Supreme Court Judge Oleg Nefyodov stated, “The restrictions previously imposed on the Taliban—specifically their inclusion on the unified federal list of terrorist organizations—have now been lifted. This decision takes immediate legal effect.”

The ruling follows a petition by Russia’s Prosecutor General last month seeking to annul the Taliban’s terrorist designation. Taliban leaders have made several visits to Russia in recent years, attending key forums such as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2022 and 2024, and holding high-level meetings in Moscow including a notable 2023 meeting between the Taliban’s top diplomat and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Not Official Recognition—Yet

While the decision removes a significant barrier to open diplomatic engagement, it does not amount to formal recognition of the Taliban government. The group is still seeking international legitimacy, but the Russian move allows officials to engage with Taliban representatives without legal or diplomatic discomfort.

Changing Perceptions Over Two Decades

Moscow’s stance toward the Taliban has shifted dramatically over the past 20 years. The Taliban emerged in 1994 during Afghanistan’s civil war, largely composed of mujahideen fighters who had previously battled Soviet troops in the 1980s—a conflict that cost thousands of Soviet lives and contributed to the eventual collapse of the USSR.

In 2003, Russia designated the Taliban a terrorist organization due to its support for separatist insurgents in Russia’s North Caucasus region. However, the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 prompted Moscow and other regional players to reassess their strategies.

Russia has since opened a trade office in Kabul and announced plans to use Afghanistan as a transit hub for exporting gas to Southeast Asia. In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly described the Taliban as a partner in the fight against terrorism.

Both Russia and the Taliban share a common enemy in Islamic State–Khorasan (ISIS-K), which has been responsible for deadly attacks in Afghanistan and Russia, including the March 2024 Moscow concert hall attack that killed 145 people.

Broader International Shifts

While no country has yet officially recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government, several states have shown growing willingness to engage. In 2023, China became the first country to appoint a new ambassador to Kabul under Taliban rule, and has since expanded economic ties. Kazakhstan, too, removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations last year.

Russia’s decision now adds further momentum to the gradual re-engagement with the Taliban, as global powers navigate a changing geopolitical landscape in the region.