The Afghan Foreign Ministry described Russia’s Decision as “a historic step That will set a good example for other countries. “.

Days After Moscow’s Recognition of the Afghan Regime, The International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands, Issued Arrest Warrants Agreban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Just. Hakim Haqqani, Saying There Were “Reasonable Grounds” to Suspect Them of Carrying Out Gender-Based Persecution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol6wa3ugnlu

History of Russia’s involvement in Afghanistan

Pre-Revolution Russia Had a Deep Strategic Interest in Afghanistan, which LED to an intense rivalry with britain in the 19th century that was family described by the british intelligence office ashur conolly as “Great Great.” Afghanistan, which stood as a buffer between britain’s colonial possessions in south asia and russia, was of great strategic importance to bot imperialist employes.

As a great game imperfect, Britain had long tried to Control afghanistan, and had sought to impose itself on the country thrown the first and second angl-efghan wars of 1839-42 and 1878-80-80. In 1919, the emir of afghanistan, amanullah khan, made an attempt to shake off the british, which result in the third anglo-afghan war.

The bolsheviks, who had taken power in russia after the october revolution of 1917, was opposed to colonialism and imperialism. They renounced variable treaties and agreements of tsarist russia, and world up its colonial possessions, which profound anti-coonial movements everyWherE.

In 1919, Vladimir Lenin offered the hand of soviet friendship to Amanullah Khan. He wrote to the emir that “flourishing afghanistan is the only independent Muslim state in the world”, and that “the workers” and peasants “government [of the Soviet Union] Is was insured to Grant Such Assistance on the Widest Scale to the Afghan Nation, and what is more, to repair the injustice done by the former government of the russian tsars… by Adjust -Afghan Frinti. To add to the territory of afghanistan at the experiment of russia “.

In the Early Decades of the Cold War, as Pakistan joined the anti-communist Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) and Central Treaty Organization (Cento), and the us and britain attempted to Run Iran thrugghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Soviet stakes in afghanistan insured greatly. It was crucal for Moscow to have infused in Afghanistan in order to maintain the USSR’s regional security dominance, to prevent instability in soviet central asia, and to ass as a global powers of a Global Power Against. West.

As part of its Ideological Project, The soviet union prop communist parties and governances in easy europe and asia, increasing the people’s democratic party (pdpa) in Afghanistan. In April 1978, The PDPA LED The Saur Revolution, A Military Coup in Which The Country’s Autocratic President Mohammed Daoud Khan was Overthrown and Killed, and a Socialist Government Government Aligned Moscow Came to Power.

Several Months of Violence and Repression Followed As Pashtun-Red Khalqist Fashion This triggered armed resistance, and as uprisings against the socialist regime started to break out at variable places, the red army marched into the country in December 1979. Brezhnev Doctrine, which saw any threat to socialist rule in a soviet bloc country in EAST Europe and central asia as a threat to them all.

Thus began a decade of soviet occupation of afghanistan, and a bruising war in which afghan mujahideen was backed finanically and logisticly by the us-prong west, what finally ended with the humiliating witrow. Soviet forces from the country.

The Soviet-AFGhan War of 1979-89 Witnessed the Deaths of around 20,000 Soviet Soldiers, and more than 1.5 million afghans.

The Moscow Format consultations

The recognition of the taliban by russia marks a strategic shift in what was once a relationship of immunity and mistrust.

Post-Communist Russia under Prime President Vladimir Putin Offered Support to the us ‘Global War on Terror’ in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attcks, which also Gave Russia the international Legitimacy to pursue. Wars in chechnya and dagstan. The First Taliban Regime (1996-2001) Had Recognied Chechnya’s Independence, and Allowed a chechen embassy to open in kabul.

As the government of president ashraf ghani steadily lost its grip over the country and the warline grew in the us, the moscow south to re-interf in the aFghan picture. The Moscow Format consultations were initiated in 2017 as a regional platform for discussions on the Afghan Reconciliation Gangal Envoys from Russia, AFGHANIAN, IRAN, CHINA, and PAKISTAN. Russia was concerned that a power vacuum in afghanistan could make it an exporter of narcotics and terrorism, and a destination factor in the region.

On August 15, 2021, as the last American Soldiers Left afghanistan amid chaos, the russian embassy in taliban-consolled kabul remained formally open. In September 2022 Russia and the taliban signed a major preliminary agitation for russia to support afghanistan with discounted petroleum products and wheat. This was the first Major Foreign Economic Deal Struck by the new rulers of afghanistan.

During the Fifth Moscow Format Consultation in 2023, there special focus on the activities of the ISIS-K, the Islamic State in Khorasan Province. On March 23, 2024, isis-k claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Moscow’s crocus city hall in which more than 145 people were killed. That is July, President Vladimir Putin Called the Taliban “Allies in the Fight Against Terrorism”.

Later in 2024, Representatives of the Afghan Government Participated in the cop29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, The Highst-Level Multilateral Engagement by the County Since The Taliban Takeover.

In April 2025, Russia’s Supreme Court remave the ban on the taliban as a “terrorist organism”, which way for russia to formally recommend the taliban government in afghanistan.

The two counties can now conduct bilateral coperation in trade, security, technology, and energy, even as the taliban continent with their grave violations of human ighs of human ighs, denening the right to study. Imposing Sever Restrictions on their day-to-day living.

In September 2023, China had become the first country to formally namely an environment to afghanistan, zhao xing. Pakistan, the uae, turkey, and azerbaijan have appointed permanent ambassadors in kabul this year. India has a ‘technical team’ in afghanistan, which oversees humanitarian assistance, and in November 2024, the taliban regime appointed ikramuddin kamil as “acting consul” in the apaghan mumbai.

A Changed Geopolitical Context

Why did president putin choose to recognize the Taliban government?

As Outlined Above, afghanistan, the so-called “heart of asia” because of its location, has long been a theater of geopolitical contest. This “Graveyard of Empires” has seen long-Running Wars and turmoil interspersed with short spells of stability. The Decisive Victory of the Taliban in 2021 Signaled the Arrival of Relative Political Stability – Some Pockets of Resistance in the North and Activities of Terrorist Likes Likes Notwithstanding – And The Potant For A RESAM. Trade and Economic Activity.

Dhananjay Tripathi, WHO TEAACHES International Relations At South Asian University, Put The Russian Decision to Recognise The Taliban Government in a Larger Geopolitical Context This Includes The War In Ukraine Annd Fallout.

“In the current geopolitical situation, Russia is facing immune pressure due to the economic isolation from the us and the west. Is supplied by China North Korea, it will be a good oportunity for building and military ties with the taliban in afghanistan. Also, “The power vacuum after the usa left afghanistan, almost in a rush, had to be filled.”

The afghan economy has been devastated by decades of war, and presents a potential oportunity for a range of russian exports. The Russian Business Center in Afghanistan Estimates That Bilateral Trade Reached $ 1 billion in 2024, and is set to reach $ 3 billion by 2025. At the STERSBURG International Economic Forum in June, Russeia Announcement Its Labour Market to Include Afghan Specialists.

In the Absence of International Recognition, Investments have been a challenge for the taliban regime. In May 2025, afghanistan agreed to join the china-pakistan economic corridor (CPEC), a project of the belt and road initiative of china, but beijing spains reluctant to invest in afghanistan. The only known Major Chinese Investment is the $ 49 million that Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum and Gas Co. Has spent on development oil fields near herat.

What this move by Russia means for India

India has a shared history, cultural bonds and old civilisational ties, and deep economic and strategic stakes in afghanistan. It also Also Retains Significant Goodwill Ang Large Sections of the Afghan Population.

Over the years, India has investing more than $ 3 billion in projcts like the Afghan Parliament, The Salma Dam, and the Zaranj -Delram Highway, which links afghanistan to Iran’s chabahar. India has built hospitals, schools, and offered thousands of scholarships to students. More than 3,000 afghan students, including 300 girls, are studying in India, according to the Indian government.

“India needs to close Monitor Developments in Afghanistan. Period is for India. Prof Tripathi Said.

A calibrated strategic engagement with the taliban, Driven by Pragmatism, is in India’s interest. Afghanistan is crucial for the connect central asia policy that India launched 2015, and it exains a release partner in tackling cross-border terrorism emanating from pakistan.

The writer is a master’s student of international relations at South Asian University and a Summer Intern at the Indian Express.