Russia has on Thursday officially recognized the extremist Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which makes them the first in the world to make the decision. The announcement came after a meeting between the regime's foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Russia's ambassador in the country Dmitrij Zhirnov.
"This brave decision will be an example for others. . . Now that the process of recognition has begun, Russia was before all others", says Muttaqi in a video from the meeting that was published in social media.
The decision comes as a result of Russia in April deciding to lift the terrorist label on the Islamic Taliban movement that rules Afghanistan, which was done with the intention of creating friendly relations with the regime.
Several other states, including China and Pakistan have Taliban ambassadors in their capitals, but have not officially recognized the regime.
