Shoigu Announces Pragmatic Dialogue Between Russia and Taliban for Regional Security

Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, announced that Moscow has initiated a pragmatic dialogue with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Speaking at the 21st meeting of Security Council secretaries of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Shoigu stated that Russia recognized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in July 2025. The collaboration aims to ensure regional security and economic development, encompassing political, security, commercial, cultural, and humanitarian contacts. Shoigu emphasized the importance of reviving the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group and expanding regional cooperation. He firmly rejected the return of third-country military infrastructure to Afghanistan, asserting that the US and its allies must bear responsibility for post-conflict reconstruction. While acknowledging ongoing threats from terrorism and drug trafficking, Shoigu noted the Taliban's fierce struggle against the Islamic State and a significant reduction in poppy cultivation. He also highlighted concerns regarding the influx of foreign fighters from Syria into Afghanistan. This announcement underscores Russia's strategic shift towards engaging with the Taliban to stabilize Central Asia and counter Western influence in the region.