Russia Establishes Pragmatic Partnership with Taliban Government, Shoigu Announces

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu announced that Moscow is building a pragmatic and full-fledged partnership with the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Speaking at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in Kyrgyzstan, Shoigu emphasized that this dialogue aims to enhance regional security and foster economic development. Russia became the first nation to officially recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in July 2025, following the removal of the Taliban from its domestic terrorist list and the acceptance of an Afghan ambassador in Moscow. Shoigu highlighted extensive cooperation spanning political, security, trade, and humanitarian sectors. He credited the Taliban with actively combating Islamic State militants, noting that approximately 23,000 fighters from various groups remain active in the country. Furthermore, Shoigu urged the United States to assume primary responsibility for post-conflict reconstruction after its two-decade military presence. He also expressed strong opposition to any other nations establishing a military footprint in Afghanistan, reaffirming Russia’s stance against deploying its own troops while seeking to stabilize the region through diplomatic and economic engagement rather than direct military intervention.