The Tactics Institute for Security and Counterterrorism urgently calls on the Russian government to halt its current actions regarding the Taliban, which pose a significant threat to regional security and peace. The removal of the Taliban from Russia’s terror list and increased engagement with the group threaten to destabilize the already volatile region of Central and South Asia.

Since the terror attack at the Crocus City Centre in Moscow in March 2024, allegedly perpetrated by the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), Russia has intensified efforts to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a terror haven. One approach has been greater engagement with the Taliban, culminating in a proposal by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice to remove the Taliban from Russia’s list of terror organizations. This decision, while intended to secure Russian interests, dangerously undermines international security and sets a precarious precedent.

Russia’s actions, such as accrediting Taliban-appointed diplomats and inviting the group to international forums, embolden the Taliban without holding it accountable to international laws and human rights standards. The Taliban’s continued failure to uphold women’s and minorities’ rights, coupled with their inability to control terror groups like ISKP and Al Qaeda, exacerbates the threat to regional stability.

The Tactics Institute demands that Russia cease its engagement with the Taliban until the group demonstrates a genuine commitment to international human rights norms and counterterrorism efforts. The Taliban must not be legitimized while it continues to harbour terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda and provides training grounds for groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). 

Regional actors have consistently highlighted the need for the Taliban to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a launchpad for terrorist activities. The Taliban’s failure to adhere to the Doha agreement commitments and the increasing presence of terror groups within Afghanistan call for a unified and stringent international response, not appeasement.

The Tactics Institute urges Russia to immediately halt its efforts to remove the Taliban from its terror list and to reconsider its engagement strategy with the group. These actions violate fundamental international rights and jeopardize regional and global security. The international community must prioritize stability and peace by holding the Taliban accountable and preventing Afghanistan from becoming a haven for terrorism.