On Thursday, Russia admitted that it has accepted the credentials of the new Afghan ambassador, formally recognizing the Taliban-led government, which makes Russia the first country to do so.
According to Reuters, the Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement where it said that recognizing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will facilitate meaningful cooperation between the two countries in different spheres.
Simultaneously, a Taliban statement in Kabul noted that the Russian Ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov had met with the Afghanistan Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi. At the meeting, the ambassador officially communicated the Russian choice to acknowledge the Taliban regime.
He termed the decision as a milestone geared towards enhancing the relationships between the two countries.
Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaki warmly welcomed the recognition and it marked the start of a new era of mutual respect, positive relations and cooperation between Russia and Afghanistan.
He further said that this practical step by Russia would be recalled as a landmark in the history of their relations and may encourage other countries to do the same. He also hoped that now bilateral cooperation would grow even more.
