Kazakhstan removes Taliban from designated terror groups list
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A Kazakh official stated that future engagements between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan will be established in alignment with the UN's stance and resolutions sanctioned by the UN General Assembly and Security Council.
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Afghan elderly men sit near Taliban flags during a celebration marking the second anniversary of the withdrawal of US-led troops from Afghanistan, Kandahar, Afghanistan, August 15, 2023. (AP)
Kazakhstan has omitted the Afghan Taliban movement from its list of designated terrorist organizations, the country's Foreign Ministry spokesman Aybek Smadiyarov said in an interview on Friday.
He further pointed out that the Taliban are not listed as a terrorist organization by the UN Security Council.
"Kazakhstan regularly conducts an audit of the national list of terrorist organizations banned in the republic in order to update it. As part of this process, it was decided to exclude the Taliban movement from it in accordance with UN practice. Thus, according to the resolutions of the UN Security Council, which are binding, the Taliban movement is not included in the lists of organizations recognized by the UN Security Council as terrorist," he told Kazakh state news agency Kazinform.
According to the spokesperson, future engagements between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan will be established in alignment with the UN's stance and resolutions sanctioned by the UN General Assembly and Security Council.
Russia reacts positively to Kazakh decision
In reaction to the decision, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed that the move could potentially influence dialogue between Kazakh and Afghan authorities in a positive way, with the potential to develop collaborative efforts to uphold regional security and address issues related to terrorism and drug crime.
"This step will contribute to Afghanistan's exit from international isolation and its further integration into global political and economic processes, and will open up new opportunities for humanitarian support to the Afghan population," the diplomatic service emphasized.
The ministry also anticipates that this decision will aid in promoting inter-Afghan reconciliation and contribute to stabilizing the situation in the country.
It is noteworthy that the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, marking the end of over two decades of war following a hasty US withdrawal.
Read more: Taliban taking 'concrete steps' to 'free' women from oppression
Afghanistan re-integration
In a bid to relieve the country of a humanitarian crisis, China and Russia have in recent months amped up efforts to re-integrate Afghanistan into the international community.
In September this year, China announced it is the first country to officially appoint a new envoy to Afghanistan since the Taliban took government.
"This is the normal rotation of China's ambassador to Afghanistan, and is intended to continue advancing dialogue and cooperation between China and Afghanistan," China's foreign ministry said. "China's policy towards Afghanistan is clear and consistent."
Russia on the other hand has consistently aided the country through diplomatic and commercial efforts.
