Work To Remove Taliban From List of Terrorist Groups Underway, Says Russian Diplomat
Zamir Kabulov, Russia's special representative for Afghanistan, said that the plan to remove the Taliban from Russia's list of terrorist groups is progressing well.
In an interview, Kabulov highlighted that the process of delisting the Taliban as a terrorist group is underway.
Responding to inquiries about the timeline for the Taliban's removal from the list, he told TASS news agency, "When all stages are completed we will inform everyone. The work is still ongoing."
Previously, Kabulov had reported that the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice had formally advised President Vladimir Putin on the possibility of delisting the Taliban from banned organisations.
Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, officially announced Russia's decision to remove the Taliban from its list of designated terrorist organisations.
At the conclusion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, Putin acknowledged the Taliban's control over Afghanistan and affirmed them as "allies in the fight against terrorism”.
Critics of this move have cautioned that delisting the Taliban could be seen as endorsing terrorism and extremism across Central Asia and beyond.
