World

Russia invites Afghanistan's Taliban to major economic forum

Since Taliban seized power in 2021, Russia has slowly built ties with them, though the group is still outlawed there

Reuters May 27, 2024

Taliban fighters are seen at the Taliban flag-raising ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 31, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS

MOSCOW:

Russia has invited Afghanistan's Taliban to its biggest annual economic forum as Moscow moves to remove a ban on the Islamist movement, a senior Russian diplomat was quoted as saying on Monday.

Since the Taliban seized power in August 2021 as US-led forces withdrew after 20 years of war, Russia has been slowly building ties with the Taliban, though the movement is still officially outlawed in Russia.

Russia's foreign and justice ministries have reported to President Vladimir Putin on the issue of removing the ban, Zamir Kabulov, director of the Second Asia Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told state news agency TASS.

Some questions remain, Kabulov was quoted as saying, though he said that an invitation to attend the June 5-8 St Petersburg international economic forum had been extended to the Taliban.

Afghan leaders, he said, were traditionally interested in the purchase of oil products.

Read also: Moscow’s Taliban tilt

The St Petersburg forum, which once hosted Western CEOs and investment bankers from London and New York, has changed significantly amid the Ukraine war which has triggered the biggest crisis in Russia's relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

Western investors seeking a slice of Russia's vast resource wealth have now been replaced by businesses from China, India, Africa and the Middle East.

The Taliban, which means "students" in the Pashto language, emerged in 1994 around the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. It was one of the factions fighting a civil war for control of the country following the withdrawal of the Soviet Union and subsequent collapse of the government.

It originally drew members from so-called "mujahideen" fighters who, with support from the United States, repelled Soviet forces in the 1980s.

In 2003, Russia formally labelled the Taliban a terrorist organisation, though it had periodic informal contacts with the movement.

COMMENTS (1)

Hafiz Fahad | 5 months ago | Reply It seems like you want me to provide a response or commentary on the news about Russia inviting Afghanistan s Taliban to its economic forum and the broader geopolitical implications. Here s a summary Russia s decision to invite the Taliban to its economic forum reflects a strategic shift in its approach towards Afghanistan since the Taliban s takeover in 2021. Despite officially outlawing the Taliban Russia has been gradually establishing ties with the Islamist movement. This move underscores Russia s efforts to influence Afghan affairs amid changing global dynamics including the fallout from the Ukraine conflict which has strained its relations with the West. The St Petersburg international economic forum traditionally a platform for Western business interests now sees a shift towards participants from China India Africa and the Middle East due to geopolitical tensions. This evolving dynamic highlights Russia s pivot towards alternative economic partners amid Western sanctions and isolation. The history of the Taliban originally formed in the aftermath of the Soviet-Afghan war and Russia s previous designation of the Taliban as a terrorist organization add complexity to its current engagement strategy. This engagement could potentially impact regional stability and influence broader international relations. Overall Russia s outreach to the Taliban reflects its pragmatic approach to regional diplomacy and economic interests navigating complex geopolitical landscapes shaped by historical alliances and current global conflicts.

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