Despite Russia’s recent move to suspend the designation of the Afghan Taliban as a terrorist organisation within its jurisdiction, the United Nations has made it clear that the group’s international status remains unchanged.
UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the decision was made independently by the Russian Federation and does not reflect the collective stance of the international community. “The Taliban’s status is determined by member states, and there has been no change at the UN level,” Dujarric stated.
The announcement comes as the UN Security Council voted to extend the mandate of its sanctions monitoring team for another 14 months, signalling continued global concern over the Taliban’s conduct and reaffirming the international sanctions regime in place against individuals associated with the group.
Although Moscow’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Russia remains bound by the UN Security Council sanctions, the Russian Supreme Court approved the suspension of the group’s designation following a request by the Prosecutor General’s Office. The decision, made by Judge Oleg Nefedov, is effective immediately.
The Taliban welcomed the move. Its spokesperson, Zabiullah Mujahid, praised Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “correct policy” and voiced hope that the decision would pave the way for enhanced economic and diplomatic ties between Russia and the Taliban regime.
However, the UN’s firm position highlights persistent global unease over the Taliban’s oppressive rule, its human rights violations, and refusal to meet international demands for inclusive governance, gender equality, and counter terrorism assurances.
