Russia Advances Bill to Remove Taliban from Terror List

Legislation approved in its first reading could signal a shift in Moscow's stance toward Afghanistan's ruling group.

Russia's State Duma approved the first reading of a bill that would allow the Taliban to be removed from its list of designated terrorist organizations.
The legislation requires two more readings, approval from the upper house, and President Vladimir Putin's signature to become law.
If enacted, the move could pave the way for formal recognition of the Taliban government, which no country currently recognizes.
Russia has engaged with Taliban representatives in recent years, citing the need to stabilize Afghanistan despite the group's continued restrictions on women's rights.
Concerns persist internationally about the Taliban's reliability in counterterrorism efforts, particularly regarding the threat posed by Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-KP).