Taliban seeks to revitalize relations with Russia: Steps towards dream of recognition
The Taliban is still seeking to
obtain any hint of recognition from any country, even if by merely accepting
the slightest diplomatic representation, giving it hope for international
recognition so that it can fully control Afghanistan as any recognized
government. Since the movement’s seizure of power in August, it began searching
for a position of acceptance in Russia through the visits of senior leaders to
the Russian capital, although Moscow still classifies the movement on the list
of terrorist entities.
Diplomatic
representation
Hours before the end of 2021,
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the Taliban government
intends to appoint an ambassador to Moscow as soon as the latter recognizes the
current authority in Afghanistan, adding, “We have a plan to appoint an
ambassador for us in Moscow.”
“It is a diplomatic step. Embassies
and consulates are important for diplomatic relations, and we are cooperating
in this matter,” he added.
The movement is currently trying to
take advantage of any position from the international community, even if it is
to obtain humanitarian aid for the Afghan people from any country in order to
obtain any diplomatic or consular representation, hoping that this
representation will later turn into official recognition of its government.
Mujahid's statements came against
the backdrop of the humanitarian aid Moscow sent to the Afghan people, and he
said that “the movement did not receive conditions from Russia to recognize the
government it formed in Afghanistan.”
He noted that Russia has sent
humanitarian aid many times to Afghanistan, saying, “Moscow has sent
humanitarian aid many times to Afghanistan, and we have thanked her for that
and we still demand that the Afghan people not be left alone; they need help,
because they just got out of the war and are suffering from an economic crisis.
We expect the aid to continue and Moscow to cooperate in that.”
On December 17, Russia's special
envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, announced that Russia would send a
shipment of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
Russian
position
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov clarified his country's position on the Taliban government and the
Afghan people, indicating that the relationship with representatives of the
movement is currently restricted in providing humanitarian aid to the Afghan
people.
According to the Russian News Agency
(TASS), Lavrov said in press statements on Friday, December 31, that his
country maintains working contacts with representatives of the Taliban movement
through Moscow’s embassy in Kabul, noting that the humanitarian field has
become an important area for practical interaction in light of the current social
and economic crisis in Afghanistan.
Lavrov said that Moscow delivered
several batches of humanitarian aid to Kabul during the months of November and
December 2021, and also helped Afghan students come to Russia to continue their
education.
Russian concern
Despite the Taliban's wishes to
obtain the slightest recognition of its government from Russia, Moscow still
does not trust the movement so far, and this appears from its fears of armed
groups from inside Afghan territory infiltrating neighboring countries and
threatening Moscow's interests with them.
On December 27, Russian and
international media reported Russian President Vladimir Putin's concerns about
the security situation in the countries on the Afghan border, as he said that
the security situation on the Afghan-Tajik border was “worrisome.”
