Russia's Supreme Court has lifted a ban on the Taliban in Afghanistan, which Moscow designated a terrorist organization more than two decades ago, the Associated Press reported, BTA reported.
The move represents a diplomatic victory for the Taliban, which in 2003 were included in Moscow's list of terrorist organizations, which, under Russian law, made any contact with them punishable.
At the same time, Taliban delegations have attended various forums organized by Russia as Moscow seeks to position itself as a regional power broker.
The court's decision, at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office, followed the adoption last year of a law that provides for the official designation of the Taliban as a terrorist organization to be revoked.
The Soviet Union fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan (1979-1989), which ended with the withdrawal of Soviet troops. Recently, however, Russian officials have emphasized the need to engage with the Taliban to help stabilize Afghanistan.
In recent years, the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have removed the Taliban from their lists of terrorist organizations. The Taliban retook power in Afghanistan in August 2021, when U.S.-led NATO troops withdrew from the country after two decades of war.
The Taliban initially promised a more moderate form of government than during their first period in power from 1996 to 2001, but soon began imposing restrictions on women and girls. Women were banned from working in most professional fields and in public places, including parks, baths and gyms, and girls were banned from continuing their education beyond the sixth grade, the AP recalls.
The measures taken have isolated the Taliban from the international scene, although they have established diplomatic relations with countries such as China and the United Arab Emirates.
This year, the United Nations has renewed its call for the Taliban to lift the restrictions imposed. The Taliban's decrees restricting the rights of women and girls have also affected the flow of foreign aid to the country. The Taliban have also returned to their strict interpretation of sharia, Islamic law, including carrying out public executions.
Some Taliban members want greater engagement with the international community and a shift away from harsher policies to attract more external support. In recent months, under the administration of US President Donald Trump, there has been increased engagement between Washington and the Taliban, particularly around prisoner exchanges and releases.