Russia to support Taliban in battle against Islamic State in Afghanistan

Russia has pledged to support the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan in their ongoing fight against the Islamic State group, a move that signals deepening ties between Moscow and Kabul.

Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special representative for Afghanistan and a former ambassador to the country, said on Friday that Russia views Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) as a shared threat.

"We see and appreciate the efforts the Taliban are making in the fight against the Afghan wing of ISIS," Kabulov said.

"We will provide our best assistance to the authorities of Afghanistan through specialised structures."

ISIS-K has carried out numerous deadly attacks in Afghanistan and beyond, including the March 2024 attack on a concert hall near Moscow that left 145 people dead.

The assault was claimed by the Islamic State, and US officials later said intelligence pointed to ISIS-K being behind the attack.

Kabulov’s remarks highlight the growing cooperation between Russia and the Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US-led forces.

Since then, the Taliban government has not been officially recognised by any country.

However, last month, Russia took a major step toward formal engagement by removing the Taliban from its list of terrorist organisations.

The group had been on the list since 2003.

The decision to lift the designation has paved the way for deeper ties between Moscow and Kabul.

"The suspension of the ban on the Taliban finally removes obstacles to full cooperation," Kabulov said.

According to him, Russia is now looking to build relations with the Taliban government across various sectors and has even offered to accredit an Afghan ambassador in Moscow.

President Vladimir Putin has previously described the Taliban as Russia’s "ally" in the fight against terrorism, marking a shift in the Kremlin’s view of the group.

While the Taliban has struggled to gain international recognition, it has continued to position itself as a bulwark against ISIS-K within Afghanistan.

The group says it is determined to wipe out all ISIS-K presence in the country.

Kabulov’s comments reflect a strategic change in Russia’s foreign policy in the region, driven in part by the security threat posed by ISIS-K.

By working with the Taliban, Russia hopes to contain the group and prevent further attacks like the one in Moscow.

As both sides move closer, the prospect of Russia offering more concrete military or intelligence support to the Taliban remains a possibility.