By Tahir Khan
鈥 Experts say Moscow鈥檚 decision reflects desire to prevent Afghanistan from falling back into US camp
鈥 Move 鈥榰nlikely to ease path鈥 for wider global recognition of Afghan Taliban regime
ON July 3, Russia recognised the Taliban government of Afghanistan, becoming the first country to recognise the regime in Kabul, which came to power in August 2021.
At the time, Moscow had said that its decision would 鈥済ive an impetus鈥 to bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
But Russia has been laying the groundwork to engage with the Afghan Taliban for more than a decade, even when they weren鈥檛 in power 鈥 a move, experts believe, is born out of Moscow鈥檚 security and geopolitical concerns.
In 2015-16, the Russians set up formal engagement channels with the Taliban.
According to a Taliban official, members of the group鈥檚 political office had carried out secret visits to Russia.
Russia has been laying the groundwork to engage with the Afghan Taliban for more than a decade.鈥擷 / MoFA