INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Afghanistan's government said on Thursday that Russia had become the first country to officially recognize its rule, calling it a "brave
decision."The Taliban swept back to power in 2021 after ousting the foreign-backed government and have imposed an austere version of Islamic
law.They have keenly sought official international recognition and investment, as the country recovers from four decades of war, including
the Soviet invasion from 1979 to 1989.The announcement was made after Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Russia's
Ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, in Kabul on Thursday."This brave decision will be an example for others..
Now that the process of recognition has started, Russia was ahead of everyone," Muttaqi said in a video of the meeting on X."Russia is the
first country which has officially recognized the Islamic Emirate," Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal told AFP, using the
government's name for their administration.Muttaqi said it was "a new phase of positive relations, mutual respect, and
recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will boost the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in
several areas."It highlighted potential "commercial and economic" cooperation in "energy, transportation, agriculture and
infrastructure."The ministry said that Moscow hoped to continue helping Kabul "reinforce regional security and fight against the threats of
terrorism and drug trafficking."Moscow has taken recent steps to normalize relations with the Taliban authorities, removing them from a list
of "terrorist organizations" in April and accepting a Taliban ambassador in Kabul.In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the
Taliban takeover, and has announced plans to use Afghanistan as a transit hub for gas heading to Southeast Asia.Only Saudi Arabia, Pakistan
and the United Arab Emirates recognized the Taliban during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001.This time, multiple other states,
including China and Pakistan, have accepted Taliban ambassadors in their capitals, but have not officially recognized the Islamic Emirate
since the end of the then-insurgency's two-decade war with U.S.-led NATO troops.There has been limited but growing engagement with the
Taliban authorities, particularly from regional neighbors, but also major global players China and Russia.However, restrictions on women and
girls, barring them from education and squeezing them from public life, have been key sticking points for Western nations.Multiple Afghan
women activists were quick to condemn Russia's recognition.The move "legitimizes a regime that bans girls from education, enforces public
floggings, and shelters UN-sanctioned terrorists," said Mariam Solaimankhil, former member of Afghanistan's parliament."The move signals
sanctions, including by the United Nations.Another former MP in Kabul, Fawzia Koofi, said any recognition of the Taliban "will not bring
peace it will legitimize impunity" and "risk endangering not just the people of Afghanistan, but global security."
