Russia’s Supreme Court suspends ban on Afghanistan’s Taliban

Russia's Supreme Court has temporarily removed the Taliban from its list of banned terrorist organizations. This move is aimed at normalizing relations with Afghanistan and follows a request from the prosecutor general. The decision reflects years of gradual improvement in ties between Russia and the Taliban, driven by shared security interests such as counterterrorism efforts against ISIL's regional affiliate, ISKP. Russia also seeks to leverage Afghanistan as a transit hub for gas exports to Southeast Asia. While several other countries have improved relations with the Taliban, no state has fully recognized it yet.