Russia Moves Closer to Taking Taliban Off Terror List

Russia’s State Duma has taken a significant step toward removing the Taliban from its list of designated terrorist organizations.

Their lower house of parliament approved a bill in the first of three required readings to support the move.

It will allow courts to temporarily suspend an organization’s terrorist status upon request from the Prosecutor General or their deputy, provided sufficient information supports such a decision.

The bill’s success could suggest a rethink of Moscow’s relationship with Afghanistan’s ruling group.

The Taliban, designated as a terrorist organization by Russia in 2003, have been subject to legal prohibitions, making any contact with them punishable under Russian law.

Despite this, Russian officials have engaged with Taliban representatives, citing the necessity of such interactions to stabilize Afghanistan.

An Attempt to ‘Strengthen Relations’

In October 2024, Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced that a decision to remove the Taliban from the terrorist list had been “taken at the highest level,” with legal formalities underway to enact the change.

“The amendments proposed by the bill are aimed at eliminating the defined legal gaps and securing the possibility of temporarily suspending the ban on the activities of an organization included in the list of terrorist organizations by a court decision,” the bill reads.

Should the legislation be enacted, it “would certainly be a victory [for] the Taliban,” Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Foreign Policy program, told Newsweek last month.

She noted that this aligns with Russia’s ongoing efforts to “strengthen relations” with the group.

“It prioritized getting rid of the U.S. from Afghanistan, from its backyard, from its neighborhood as more important than the uncertainties about terrorism, migration and civil war should the Taliban come to power,” Felbab-Brown said.

Intensified Oppression of Women in Afghanistan

The Taliban’s return to power has led to varied responses internationally.

While no country has formally recognized the Taliban government, regional powers such as China and the United Arab Emirates have accepted Taliban-appointed ambassadors.

In contrast, Western nations have imposed sanctions.

Since regaining control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the extremist group has intensified its oppression of women’s rights: extensive censorship, mandatory male guardianship, and burqa/hijab dress-code enforcement that comes with severe penalties for disobeying.

Approximately 1.4 million girls have been denied access to secondary education, as the Taliban have prohibited females from attending school beyond grade six. The cumulative effect of these restrictions has been the near-total exclusion of women from Afghan society.

What Happens Next?

Russia’s more recent historical involvement in Afghanistan dates back to the Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989), which ended with the withdrawal of Soviet troops.

Since then, Moscow has sought to reassert its influence in the region, hosting talks involving senior Taliban representatives and neighboring countries.

The proposed legislation must undergo two more readings in the State Duma, receive approval from the upper house, and be signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law.

If enacted, it would mark a significant shift in Russia’s official stance toward the Taliban, potentially paving the way for formal recognition and deeper cooperation.

However, concerns persist regarding the Taliban’s commitment to combating extremist groups like the Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-KP).

While the Taliban claims to be working to eliminate IS-KP’s presence in Afghanistan, skepticism remains about their effectiveness and reliability as a partner in counterterrorism proceedings.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press