From Red Army to Red Carpet: How Russia's Taliban recognition is a tectonic shift in diplomacy

Taliban had taken over Kabul in 2021. Moscow's latest diplomatic shift will be closely watched by Washington

There are no permanent friends or enemies – nobody knows this better than the officials of the Kremlin.

The seemingly simple act of becoming the first nation in the world to recognise the Taliban government has marked a historic first for Russia.

For the Taliban are the remnants of the Mujahideen, who had fought against Russia’s Red Army in the 1980s. The ‘graveyard of empires’ adage came true when Russian troops were forced to retreat and leave Afghanistan after nine years of war in 1989.

The historic significance of this diplomatic shift is not lost on anyone watching the dramatic changes in the world order.

Interestingly, while the Taliban government did have ties with nations such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and China — and exchanged diplomats with Beijing and Abu Dhabi — these countries never officially recognised the Taliban government. But Russia just did.

What’s Washington thinking?

While there has been no official reaction from the US on the latest development, a CNN report said that the Taliban is interested in reaching out to US President Donald Trump. Will the former adversary become a new ally? After the last American soldier left Afghan soil in 2021, the Bagram Airfield was handed over to the new rulers in Kabul. But with Iran’s growing defiance, the US may be looking to regain a foothold in the region.

There has been some momentum in Taliban-US ties. In March this year, the US removed a hefty reward on three Taliban leaders. Additionally, two Americans were also released from Afghanistan. The Islamist group has even offered to set up an ‘embassy-like’ office for the Americans. The CNN report adds that these steps indicate the Taliban’s intent to pursue a better and more constructive engagement with the US.

Russia and the ghost of the 9-year war

The complex relationship between Russia and Afghanistan began when the Red Army invaded Kabul and installed a pro-USSR ruler. But the Soviet action made them an international outcast. Nine years of war, which saw the death of 15,000 Russian soldiers, led to Russia withdrawing from Afghanistan in 1989. The Mujahid soldiers that overthrew the Soviet-backed regime later spawned several groups, including the Taliban.

Russia, on its part, never really abandoned Afghanistan. In fact, it was one of the few countries that did not shut its embassy in Kabul. It was also the first nation to ink a pact with the Taliban for the supply of oil, wheat, and gas to Afghanistan in 2022. Before recognizing the Taliban, the Kremlin had also removed the Taliban government from its list of terrorist organizations earlier this year. Last year, in an address, Russian President Vladimir Putin had termed the Taliban as his “ally.”