Russian Supreme Court to decide on removing Taliban from 'terror' list

Moscow: Russia’s Supreme Court is set to rule next month on whether to remove the Taliban from its official list of banned "terrorist" organizations, according to Russian news agencies.  

Despite maintaining the Taliban’s designation as a terrorist group since 2003, Moscow has engaged with the group diplomatically following its takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 after the U.S. withdrawal.  

According to the TASS news agency, the Supreme Court has scheduled a closed-door hearing on April 17 to review the group's status. The move follows a formal request from Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office, which argues that the Taliban has ceased terrorist activities.  

In December, President Vladimir Putin signed a law that allows for the removal of organizations from the terror list through a judicial process, provided that security services confirm their disengagement from terrorism.  

No formal recognition of Taliban rule  

While the expected ruling would lift the legal ban on the Taliban, it does not equate to official recognition of their government, known as the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan." No country has formally recognized the Taliban-led administration.  

Russia has steadily increased engagement with Afghanistan, holding direct talks with Taliban officials even before their return to power. Relations between the two have evolved despite historical tensions, particularly stemming from the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s.  

Last summer, President Putin described the Taliban as “allies” in counterterrorism efforts, highlighting their role in maintaining stability within Afghanistan. The Taliban has long been engaged in conflict with the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), a jihadist group responsible for a series of deadly attacks.  

The issue gained renewed urgency following the March 2024 terror attack on a Moscow concert hall, which left more than 140 people dead. IS-K claimed responsibility for the assault, marking the deadliest attack in Russia in nearly two decades.  

Should the Supreme Court approve the removal, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) would formally take the Taliban off its terror list. The ruling is expected to reflect Moscow’s broader strategy of balancing diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan while addressing security concerns linked to extremist groups. AFP