MOSCOW: Russia said Wednesday it will allow the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan to have an ambassador in Moscow, in a symbolic move days after it lifted a 鈥渢errorist鈥� designation for the militant group.
Moscow has taken steps to normalize relations with the Islamist Taliban administration since the group seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 after the withdrawal of US troops.
The Russian foreign ministry said Russian officials had held talks with Afghanistan鈥檚 foreign and internal ministers.
鈥淭he representatives of the Afghan leadership were informed that, following the decision announced by the Supreme Court of Russia to suspend the ban on the Taliban movement, the Russian side has decided to upgrade the diplomatic mission of Afghanistan in Moscow to the level of ambassador,鈥� it said in a statement.
It added the Afghan side 鈥渆xpressed their deep gratitude for this step.鈥�
Russia sees a potential economic partner in the Taliban authorities, who praised Moscow for scrapping the 鈥渢errorism鈥� label last week.
Taliban officials have visited Russia for high-profile events in recent years.
Russia鈥檚 decision to suspend the ban on the group does not equal a formal recognition for the Taliban authorities, which are seeking international legitimacy.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that 鈥渢he new authorities in Kabul are a reality.鈥�
鈥淲e need to take this into account in order to carry out pragmatic, not ideologized policy,鈥� the minister told journalists.
The Afghan government is not officially recognized by any country or world body and the United Nations refers to the administration as the 鈥淭aliban de facto authorities鈥�.