Overview

• Russia’s Supreme Court officially removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, ending a designation in place since 2003.
• The court also lifted the ban on Taliban activities in Russia, with the ruling taking immediate effect.
• The move follows a request by the Russian Prosecutor General in March, after multiple visits from senior Taliban representatives to Moscow.
• While the delisting is largely symbolic, it signals Russia’s intent to deepen engagement with the Taliban as a counterterrorism partner against groups like the Islamic State.
• Russia joins regional powers such as Pakistan, China, Iran, and Central Asian nations in maintaining de facto relations with the Taliban-led government in Kabul.