Russia will help the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan to fight the Afghan branch of the Islamic state, according to the special representative of Moscow for the country.
Zamir Kabulov, former Russian ambassador to Afghanistan, referred to the Islamic State Jorasán (ISIS-K) as the “common enemy” of Moscow and Kabul.
“We see and value the efforts that the Taliban are doing in the fight against the Afghan Branch of ISIS,” Kabulov said in an interview with the state agency RIA.
“We will provide our best assistance to the authorities of (Afghanistan) through specialized structures.”
No country currently recognizes the Taliban government, which took power in August 2021 after the chaotic withdrawal from the forces led by the United States after 20 years of war.
However, in a step towards recognition, Russia formally eliminated last month to the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, to which they had been added in 2003.
Kabulov’s statements underline the remarkable approach of recent years between Moscow and Kabul, a relationship that President Vladimir Putin described last year as that of a “ally” of Russia in the fight against terrorism.
Russia has been shaken by several attacks linked to the Islamic State (ISIS), including the shooting that left 145 dead in a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow in March 2024, claimed by ISIS. American officials claimed to have intelligence information indicating the responsibility of ISIS-K.
The Taliban says he is working to eradicate the presence of the group in Afghanistan.
Kabulov indicated that Moscow and Kabul are strengthening their ties in multiple areas and told Ria that Russia had offered to prove an Afghan ambassador to Moscow and was waiting for Kabul’s response.
He pointed out that the suspension of the taliban prohibition “finally eliminates all obstacles to full cooperation among our countries in various fields.”
“The arrival of the Afghan ambassador to Moscow will definitely end this matter.”
Russia declared last month that aims to strengthen commercial, business and investment ties with Kabul, taking advantage of Afghanistan’s strategic position for future energy and infrastructure projects.
Kabulov said that joint economic projects will be discussed in a Russian-Fanistan business forum to be held at the end of this month in the Russian city of Kazan, mentioning mineral development and gas pipeline projects as possible areas of cooperation.
