Russia considers dropping Taliban from sanctions list

At two-day talks in Doha, increasing engagement with impoverished country of more than 40 million is being discussed

Zabihullah Mujahid, centre right, Taliban government chief spokesman, is leading the group’s delegation in Doha. AP

Russia's ambassador to the UN suggested on Monday that Moscow could drop sanctions against the Taliban, as the militant group met for the first time with members of the international community in Doha.

Before Vasily Nebenzya's comments at the UN in New York, international envoys to Afghanistan, including Russia's, gathered for a two-day summit in Qatar, where the Taliban pressed for sanctions to be dropped.

Afghanistan's hardline rulers, who seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, were also told they needed to include women in public life.

Mr Nebenzya told reporters that the Taliban “are the de facto authorities” of Afghanistan.

They “are not going to stop, and we've been saying consistently that you have to recognise this fact and deal with them as such because, whether you like it or not, this movement is running the country now. You cannot simply ignore that", he said.

“On how far we are from removing them from the sanctions list on which they are now with Russia, I cannot tell you the definite answer but I heard some talks about it.”

The Taliban government in Kabul has not been officially recognised by any other government since it took power in 2021.

Like many countries and groupings, including the US and EU, Russia maintains sanctions on the Taliban, designating it a terrorist group.

The Doha summit began on Sunday and is the third such meeting to be held in Qatar in a little over a year – but the first to include the Taliban.

The two-day summit drew intense backlash because UN organisers agreed to exclude women's rights activists to ensure the Taliban's participation.

Taliban authorities “will not sit across the table with Afghan civil society in this format, but they have heard very clearly the need to include women and civil society in all aspects of public life”, Ms DiCarlo told reporters in Doha.

Zakir Jalaly, a senior Taliban Foreign Ministry official, said on X that the delegation would use Monday's meetings to address “financial and banking sanctions” and the challenges they pose to Afghanistan's economy.

His statement followed the opening remarks by the head of the Taliban delegation, spokesman said Zabihullah Mujahid, late on Sunday as he addressed more than 20 envoys and UN officials.

“Afghans are asking why they are being ganged up on, on the basis of unilateral and multilateral sanctions,” Mr Mujahid said as he questioned whether the international measures were “fair practice” after “wars and insecurity for almost half a century as a result of foreign invasions and interference”.

The talks were held to discuss the possibility of increasing engagement with the impoverished country of more than 40 million and a more co-ordinated response, for example on economic issues and counter-narcotics efforts.

After the Taliban's return to power, the international community has wrestled with its approach to Afghanistan's new rulers.

The Taliban have imposed a strict interpretation of Islam, with women subjected to laws described by the UN as “gender apartheid”.

After the meeting, UN Under Secretary General Rosemary DiCarlo described talks as “frank” and “useful”, and said concerns and perspectives of Afghan women and civil society were central to discussions.

But she said that organisers faced a tough choice because they had to meet directly with Afghanistan's “de facto” rulers and international envoys.

She also said engagement with the Taliban authorities did not equate to recognising their government.

Instead, it was part of a broader international effort to address the issues affecting millions of Afghans.

Referring to the Taliban’s policies towards women, Amnesty International's secretary general Agnes Callamard said the international community must adopt a “clear and united stance” and asserted that the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan are “non-negotiable.”

Taliban authorities have repeatedly said the rights of all citizens are guaranteed under Islamic law.

Mr Mujahid said diplomats should “find ways of interaction and understanding rather than confrontation”, despite “natural” differences in policy.

“The Islamic emirate of Afghanistan is keen on engaging constructively with western nations as well,” he said.