Russia is building a “full-fledged” Russia Taliban partnership with Afghanistan’s authorities, senior security official Sergei Shoigu said Thursday.
Interfax quoted Shoigu as saying cooperation with Kabul supports regional security and development.
Shoigu, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, said Moscow’s dialogue with the Taliban covers security, trade, culture and humanitarian support.
He spoke at a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting with counterparts from member states, including China, India, Iran and Pakistan.
Shoigu said the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation should revive its Afghanistan contact group. Russia formally recognised the Taliban government last year.
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Moscow had outlawed the Taliban as a terrorist movement in 2003, but lifted the ban in April 2025.
