The Kremlin’s top spokesman told reporters on Tuesday that Russia is considering removing the Afghan Taliban from its list of official terrorist organizations, with a path to recognizing the jihadists as Afghanistan’s official government and establishing diplomatic ties. He said he is considering opening one.
Strongman President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claims that Taliban terrorists are “actually in power in Afghanistan” and that the Russian government is calling them terrorists to better deal with that reality. The company says it is “under consideration” to remove it from the list.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov in St. Petersburg, Russia, December 27, 2022. (Contributor/Getty Images)
“The fact is that this is our neighboring country. In one way or another, we maintain communication with them. We need to solve pressing problems, and that also requires dialogue.” and Mr. Peskov SaidRussian news agency TASS reported.
Peskov said the Russian government was “in contact with them.” [the Taliban] Just like everyone else. ”
Asked more directly about the removal of the Taliban’s designation as a terrorist organization, Peskov responded to a reporter’s question: Let’s wait until this process finishes.then let’s talk about position [of the Kremlin]”
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Mr. Peskov spoke after the jihadist terrorist group Islamic State took responsibility for the March 22 siege of the Crocus City concert hall and shopping mall, one of the bloodiest civilian massacres in modern Russian history. The move was confirmed less than two weeks later. killed Over 120 people. Gunmen opened fire on the concert hall just before the Russian rock band Piknik took to the stage, then targeted civilians hiding in toilets and hallways, killing as many people as possible. One of the terrorists used some kind of explosives to set the venue on fire, resulting in many deaths from smoke suffocation and burns.
Russian soldiers secure the area as a large fire is seen above a concert venue on the western edge of Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)
The US government, which had warned Russia ahead of the impending genocidal plot attack, specifically accused the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), the Afghan wing of the international Islamist terrorist organization, of orchestrating the Moscow massacre. Although President Putin privately said on state television that “radical Islamists” were behind the attack, he and other Russian officials believe that the U.S. and the Ukrainian government were also involved. It is hinting that it is. They have not presented any evidence for this claim.
Taliban leaders expressed anger over the attack and condolences to Moscow, which they widely denied but opposed. evidenceISIS does not exist in Afghanistan.
The Taliban, a Sunni jihadist terrorist group with ties to al-Qaeda, ISIS and other terror groups, has announced that President Joe Biden will end the 20-year war in Afghanistan by a May 2021 deadline set by his predecessor, President Donald Trump. It has ruled Afghanistan without contest since 2021, when it was extended beyond 2021. He brokered deals between the Afghan government and the Taliban at the time. With this extension, the Taliban no longer adhered to agreements restricting terrorism and continued their conquests, which ended with the collapse of the internationally recognized Kabul government.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid speaks during his first press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
No other institution claims to be the Afghan government, and no other country officially recognizes the Taliban as its legitimate government. However, some rogue states, particularly China, maintain friendly relations with Taliban leaders and have formalized some aspects of the relationship. For example, in December, China became the first country to accept former Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bilal Karimi on behalf of Afghanistan as the official Taliban ambassador to Beijing.
“The Taliban assured the Chinese side that Afghanistan is not a threat to anyone within its territory and outlined that regional stability and security are in everyone’s interest,” the Taliban said in a statement. He praised his proactiveness and non-interference.” He laid out his policy and called China a good neighbor of Afghanistan. ”
Taliban movement leaders and negotiators Abdul Latif Mansour (right), Shahabuddin Derawar (center), and Suhail Shaheen (center) walk to attend a press conference in Moscow, July 9, 2021. left). (Dimitar Dirkov/AFP via Getty Images)
Russia also maintains communications with the Taliban and welcomes official visits from Taliban representatives despite the group being designated as a terrorist organization. This is an obstacle that China does not need to overcome to cooperate with jihadist groups.Russia has recently welcomed The Taliban will send a special envoy in September to discuss alleged “regional threats.”
The Taliban appears to be acknowledging friendly relations with Russia in response to the Crocus City massacre. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as the Taliban calls itself, “condemns in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attack in Moscow, Russia, claimed by Daesh.” [ISIS] And we consider this a blatant violation of all human standards,” said spokesperson Abdul Kahal Balki.
The IEA-Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attack in Moscow, Russia, claimed by Mr. Diesh, and considers it a blatant violation of all human standards.
Daesh, which is targeting civilians in Afghanistan and other parts of the world, takes a tough stance again. pic.twitter.com/iJT7yqZbNx
— Abdul Qahar Balkhi (@QaharBalkhi) March 23, 2024
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s top spokesman, claimed shortly after the attack that ISIS in Afghanistan was “significantly weakened compared to when American troops were present.” [in Afghanistan]and the Afghan Islamic Emirate Army [the Taliban] All measures were taken to crush Daesh. ”
Contrary to the Taliban’s claims, reports have documented a surge in jihadist activity under the Taliban, not only by ISIS but also by Al Qaeda, which has long been an ally of the Taliban. An extensive report by Reuters in March claimed that ISIS-K had become one of the terrorist organization’s most influential branches by recruiting large numbers of Central Asian Muslims.
“Taliban intelligence officials estimate that 90% of ISIS-K cadres are now non-Pashtuns. Tajiks and Uzbeks are the other large ethnic groups living in northern Afghanistan,” Reuters reportadding that ISIS-K has since expanded regionally, taking advantage of the Taliban’s failure to eliminate safe areas in northern and eastern Afghanistan.
