Stories
Russia's Diplomatic Masterstroke Delivers Major Blow to Pakistan
- •Russia has become the first nation to officially remove the Taliban from its terrorist list and recognize the Kabul government.
- •Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted the credentials of Taliban-appointed ambassador Gul Hasan in January 2026.
- •The strategic partnership includes trade, energy, transit, and critical defense and security cooperation.
- •The Russia-Afghanistan axis has shattered Pakistan's decades-old Afghan policy and strategic depth aspirations.
- •India stands to benefit as regional stability improves and Pakistan's hostile influence in Central Asia diminishes.
Key Questions Answered
Russian President Vladimir Putin officially accepted the diplomatic credentials of Gul Hasan, the ambassador appointed by the Taliban, making Russia the first country to remove the Taliban from its list of banned terrorist organizations and grant official recognition to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Russia and Afghanistan signed a military-technical cooperation agreement in Moscow following meetings between Afghan Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoub and Russian officials, focusing on expanding bilateral ties, technical support, and the potential repair of Soviet-era weapons.
The growing axis between Moscow and Kabul has completely collapsed Pakistan's decades-old Afghan policy, leaving Islamabad isolated and helpless as the Taliban gains strong security and economic leverage backed by Russia.
