Russia has extended an invitation to the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to attend the next round of Moscow Format talks drawing sharp concern from international observers over what is widely seen as an effort to legitimise a regime condemned for systematic human rights abuses, suppression of women, and the dismantling of democratic institutions in Afghanistan.
The invitation was announced in a statement by the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov personally conveyed the offer during a phone call with Muttaqi. This marks the first official contact between the two since Moscow became the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government—despite the group’s continued pariah status in most of the world.
According to the Taliban’s account, Lavrov claimed that Russia’s recognition had opened the way for deeper political and economic cooperation. The conversation reportedly touched on regional security and drug trafficking, though no official statement confirming the call has been issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The Taliban, who seized power by force in 2021 and have since ruled without a constitution, electoral mandate, or inclusive political structure, remain under international sanctions and unrecognised by the United Nations. Their rule has been marked by sweeping restrictions on women’s education and employment, mass detentions, targeted killings of former officials, and the closure of independent media outlets all of which have drawn global condemnation.
Russia’s decision to not only recognise the Taliban but also invite them to a multilateral forum aimed at shaping Afghanistan’s future has raised alarms in diplomatic circles. Critics argue that such engagement risks conferring legitimacy on a regime that has shown no intention of reform and continues to violate fundamental rights with impunity.
The Moscow Format, initiated in 2017 to coordinate regional approaches to Afghan stability, has historically maintained distance from the Taliban due to their failure to meet even minimal international expectations for governance and rights protections. Russian envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, has said the next round of talks is expected between September and October 2025, though no firm date has been disclosed.
Observers warn that bringing the Taliban into high-level regional platforms without preconditions sends a dangerous signal—that regimes which disregard international norms can be rewarded with diplomatic recognition and economic engagement. As Afghanistan descends further into authoritarian rule, millions remain trapped under a government with no constitutional legitimacy, no checks on its power, and no tolerance for dissent.
