Russia Becomes First Country to Recognize Taliban Regime
At Lea Watch, we closely monitor bold developments shaping global diplomacy—and on July 3, 2025, Russia made history by formally recognizing the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan: the first nation to do so since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 Al Jazeera+15AP News+15Welt+15.
This landmark recognition came after Russia officially removed the Taliban from its list of banned terrorist groups in April 2025, and accepted the credentials of Gul Hassan Hassan as Afghanistan’s ambassador in Moscow The Daily Beast+7Wikipedia+7AP News+7. The Russian Foreign Ministry described the decision as a catalyst for “productive bilateral cooperation” in sectors such as trade, energy, infrastructure, transport, and counter‑terrorism Feminist Majority Foundation+8Reuters+8The Daily Beast+8.
From the Taliban’s perspective, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi hailed Russia’s move as a “courageous step” and a potential example for other states to follow Wikipedia+15Reuters+15News on Air+15. Indeed, while countries like China, the UAE, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and India have engaged with Taliban-appointed diplomats, Russia remains the only country to grant full formal recognition so far Wikipedia+6Reuters+6The Daily Beast+6.
Yet, this diplomatic shift comes amid serious human rights concerns. The Taliban continues to enforce strict restrictions on women and girls—banning education beyond the sixth grade and imposing severe dress codes and limits on public life—raising alarm among global human rights groups and the United Nations Foreign Policy+5AP News+5AP News+5.
What does this mean for the region? Lea Watch sees Russia’s recognition as part of a broader geopolitical strategy—signaling Moscow’s intent to assert global relevance through bold diplomatic moves. While pragmatic in tone, the decision could embolden other nations to follow Russia’s lead, potentially reshaping international engagement with the Taliban‑ruled Afghanistan YouTube+12Carnegie Endowment+12Feminist Majority Foundation+12.
For a detailed account, visit Lea Watch here: https://lea-watch.org/russia-recognizes-taliban-government/