Russia to remove Taliban from 'terror' list: state media

Russia removes Taliban from banned terrorist list, fostering relations despite international sanctions, boosting trade with Afghanistan.

Russia will remove the Taliban from a list of banned terrorist organisations, three years after they returned to power in Afghanistan, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency said on Monday.

Moscow has for years fostered relations with the Taliban, holding multiple rounds of talks and boosting trade with Afghanistan despite international sanctions.

"Kazakhstan has recently taken the decision, which we are also going to take, to remove them from the list of terrorist organisations," RIA Novosti quoted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying.

Kazakhstan removed the Taliban from its list of banned organisations at the end of 2023.

The move could further boost diplomacy between Russia and Afghanistan, but would fall short of an official recognition of the Taliban government and what it calls the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan."

The Taliban seized power in 2021 from a U.S.-backed government. They have enforced an extreme form of Islamic law that effectively bans women from public life.

Mr. Lavrov said Russia's decision was about recognising the realities on the ground.