Russia says it's establishing 'full partnership' with Afghan Taliban

MOSCOW, May 14 (Reuters) - ‌Russia is ​establishing ​a "full-fledged partnership" with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban and is encouraging other countries in the region ‌to expand cooperation with Kabul, a senior Russian ⁠security official was quoted on Thursday as saying.

Russia last year ‌became the first country ‌to formally recognise the Islamist Taliban government that seized power in August 2021 as U.S.-led forces staged ​a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.

Interfax news agency quoted Russian official ⁠Sergei Shoigu as saying cooperation with Kabul was important for the security ​and development of the region.

Shoigu, who is secretary of Russia's Security Council, said Moscow ​was building a "pragmatic dialogue" with the ‌Taliban that included security, trade, culture and humanitarian support.

He was speaking at a ⁠meeting with his counterparts from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a 10-member grouping that includes China, India, Iran, Pakistan ⁠and a number of ex-Soviet states.

The SCO should revive its contact ​group with Afghanistan, Shoigu added.

The Taliban was outlawed by Russia as a terrorist movement in 2003, but the ban was ‌lifted in April 2025. Russia sees a need to work with Kabul as ‌it faces a major security threat from Islamist ⁠militant groups based in ‌a string of ​countries from Afghanistan to the Middle East.

(Reporting by Reuters; writing by Mark TrevelyanEditing by Gareth ‌Jones)

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