Russia will help the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan to combat the Afghan Islamic State branch, said on Friday May 2.
Zamir Kabulov, a former Russian ambassador to Afghanistan, described the Islamic State of Khorasan (Isis-K) as the “common enemy” of Moscow and Kabul.
“We see and appreciate the efforts that the Taliban makes in the fight against the Afghan Wing of the Islamic State,” Kabulov told the Ria State Agency in an interview.
“We will provide our best help to the authorities of (Afghanistan) through specialized structures.”
No country currently recognizes the Taliban government which seized power in August 2021 while the forces led by the United States organized a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.
But in a stage towards recognition, Russia last month officially removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, to which it had been added in 2003.
Kabulov's comments underline the dramatic rapprochement in recent years between Moscow and Kabul, who, according to President Vladimir Putin, was now “ally” of Russia in the fight against terrorism.
Russia has been left in shock from several Islamic State attacks, including the shooting of 145 people In a concert hall outside Moscow in March 2024, which was claimed by Isis. US officials said they had information indicating that the Islamic State was responsible.
