Moscow removes Afghan Taliban from terrorist groups list

Russia on Thursday suspended its ban on the Taliban, which it had designated for more than two decades as a terrorist organisation, in a move that paves the way for Moscow to normalise ties with the leadership of Afghanistan.

No country currently recognises the Taliban government that seized power in August 2021 as US forces staged a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war. Russia has been gradually building relations with the movement, which Putin said last year was now an ally in fighting terrorism.

World