• Russia becomes the first country to officially recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan.
• The Russian Foreign Ministry stated the recognition will boost bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including security and trade.
• Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi termed the decision as historic and an example for other nations.
• The Taliban's strict governance continues to raise concerns, particularly regarding women's rights.
• China welcomed Russia's decision and believes it may lead to further recognition from regional countries.

On July 3, Russia officially recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan, becoming the first country to do so since the group seized power in August 2021. This move follows years of gradually warming ties between Moscow and Kabul, highlighted by energy cooperation deals and the recent removal of the Taliban from Russia's list of outlawed organizations, according to trtglobal and aa.

During a meeting in Kabul between Afghanistan's acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, it was confirmed that Russia would foster "productive bilateral cooperation." The Russian Foreign Ministry stated, "This recognition will give impetus to the development of productive bilateral cooperation between our countries in various fields," according to lemonde and scmp.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi welcomed the recognition, asserting that it sets "a good example for other countries." He expressed hope that this could catalyze further recognitions from other nations, marking a significant diplomatic moment for the Taliban, as no country had formally recognized their administration since their return to power in August 2021, as reported by aljazeera and bbc.

Despite this diplomatic recognition, the Taliban's rule has been met with scrutiny, particularly regarding human rights issues, especially the treatment of women and girls who face significant limitations on education and public life. Afghan women are barred from most jobs and girls are prohibited from attending school beyond the sixth grade, according to africanews and indiatimes.

China has welcomed Russia’s decision and voiced that it may encourage further recognition from regional countries, although it has not yet granted formal recognition itself. The position of other nations in the region remains cautious, with arguments being made that further recognition could follow, as noted by indiatimes and cbsnews.