Russia plans to withdraw the status of the Taliban as a terrorist organization, writes Meduza, quoted by The Kyiv Independent. The Kremlin will make a final decision in the near future.

The announcement came on the same day that Russia’s state news agency TASS reported that the Taliban had been invited to participate in the Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum forum scheduled for May.

Zamir Kabulov of the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow cooperates with the Taliban on counter-terrorism issues “on a regular basis”, adding: “There is no particular information to add.”

The Taliban strongly condemned the March 22 terrorist attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall, saying it “strongly condemns the recent terrorist attack in Moscow claimed by the Islamic State and considers it a gross violation of all human standards.”

The Taliban, founded in the early 1990s, took over Afghanistan in 1996 and imposed strict Islamic laws that brutalize women, political opponents and religious minorities.

This regime was a haven for al-Qaeda leadership after the 9/11 attacks on the US, but was removed after the US invasion of the country in 2001.

Since returning to power in 2021, approximately 1,000 civilians have been killed under their rule.