Taliban Is Russia's Ally in Its Fight Against Terrorism, Says Putin

Russian self-proclaimed President Vladimir Putin regards the radical Islamist movement ‘Taliban’ as an ally in Russia’s “fight against terrorism.”

The Taliban controls power in Afghanistan, making them “undoubtedly” allies of Russia in combating terrorism, Putin told journalists at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit on Thursday, July 4, in Astana.

“We must acknowledge that the Taliban control the government in the country. In this sense, the Taliban are certainly our allies in the fight against terrorism, because any government is interested in stability in the state it governs. We have received signals from the Taliban movement multiple times indicating their readiness to collaborate with us on the anti-terrorism front,” said Putin.

Despite Putin’s statement, the Taliban movement is classified as a terrorist organization in Russia itself and was recognized as one in 2003 — after it was included in the corresponding list by the UN Security Council. It is similarly recognized as such by the authorities of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Canada. Criminal cases are still being initiated in Russia for “justifying the activities of the Taliban movement.”

Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy strategy actively aligns with dictatorial governments and groups, such as Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un leadership. Additionally, Moscow has been coordinating with the Houthis as part of its growing alignment with Iran, with the Kremlin seeking new and deeper alliances among anti-Western powers. This approach involves supporting authoritarian regimes against international criticism, and forging economic and military alliances.