Russia plans to strengthen Taliban ties, removing them from terrorist groups list | DW News

Russia's biggest annual economic forum gets underway in St Petersburg today. Among those invited are the Taliban, which currently rule Afghanistan. Last week, President Vladimir Putin said the Islamic militant group should be removed from Russia's list of banned terrorist groups and he backed proposals to formally recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate government. No Western nation recognizes the Taliban government. Moscow has been trying to strengthen regional ties, after being shunned by the West for its invasion of Ukraine.