Taliban Receives Russian Approval – But Afghan Women Remain Invisible

Russia’s Supreme Court has officially removed the Taliban from its list of banned terrorist organizations—a pivotal shift in Moscow’s foreign policy approach to Afghanistan, more than two decades after the group was labeled a threat to national security.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul in August 2021, the international community has largely withheld formal recognition. But Russia has increasingly engaged in dialogue, participating in meetings with Taliban leadership. Now, by eliminating legal barriers, Russia has paved the way for deeper economic and diplomatic ties.

From Isolation to Pragmatism

The Taliban was added to Russia’s list of terrorist groups in 2003, making official contact with the group a criminal offense for years. The latest decision follows a legal amendment passed last year, allowing Russian courts to suspend such designations. What was once politically unthinkable has now become, in the Kremlin’s eyes, a pragmatic necessity.

Behind the scenes, growing security concerns are driving this shift. Russia has long voiced fears about extremist groups operating in Central Asia and Afghanistan. In March last year, 145 people were killed in a deadly attack at a concert hall near Moscow—an act claimed by ISIS-K, the Afghan branch of the Islamic State. The Taliban has since declared efforts to eradicate ISIS-K from Afghan territory.

A Move with Consequences

Russia’s decision is seen as a step toward normalization, though not full recognition. While doors may be opening in the East, much of the international community remains wary. Under Taliban rule, girls’ schools and universities are effectively closed, and women are barred from public spaces unless accompanied by a male guardian. Access to employment, parks, gyms, and other social venues remains severely restricted.

The United Nations and numerous human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned these policies and demanded their reversal.

Diplomacy Without Equality

Even as some nations adopt a more pragmatic tone, women’s rights remain a core obstacle to the Taliban’s international legitimacy. Taliban officials claim to uphold women’s rights “in accordance with Islamic law,” but the lived reality for Afghan women tells a very different story.

Russia’s legal pivot does nothing to change this reality—but it reflects a growing trend among some states to prioritize security and regional stability over human rights. The question now is whether other global powers will follow suit—or if the Taliban will remain diplomatically isolated as long as half its population is denied basic rights.

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