Russia becomes first country to recognise Afghanistan's Taliban government

Russia on Thursday became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban’s government in Afghanistan since it seized power in 2021, after Moscow removed the group from its list of outlawed organizations.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that it had received credentials from Afghanistan’s newly appointed Ambassador Gul Hassan Hassan.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Russian officials in Kabul where he welcomed the decision as "a positive step forward."

"Now as our recognition process has started and Russia has become the first, we hope this series will continue," he said.

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces. Since then, they have sought international recognition while also enforcing their strict interpretation of Islamic law.

While no country had formally recognized the Taliban administration until now, the group had engaged in high-level talks with many nations and established some diplomatic ties with countries including China and the United Arab Emirates.

Still, the Taliban government has been relatively isolated on the world stage, largely over its restrictions on women.

Although the Taliban initially promised a more moderate rule than during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001, it started to enforce restrictions on women and girls soon after the 2021 takeover.

Women are barred from most jobs and public places, including parks, baths and gyms, while girls are banned from education beyond sixth grade.