Russia has announced plans to assist the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan in combating the Islamic State’s regional affiliate, ISIS-K. According to a senior Russian diplomat, both Moscow and Kabul view the extremist group as a mutual threat.

Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan and a former ambassador to the country, acknowledged the Taliban’s efforts against ISIS-K and said Russia is prepared to support them through specialized channels.

Although the Taliban government, which took control of Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces, has not been officially recognized by any nation, Moscow took a step toward normalization by removing the group from its list of banned terrorist organizations last month.

Kabulov emphasized the growing cooperation between Russia and the Afghan authorities, calling the Taliban an ally in the fight against terrorism. Russia has suffered several deadly attacks linked to Islamic State militants, including a mass shooting at a concert near Moscow in March 2024 that killed 145 people. U.S. intelligence suggested ISIS-K was behind the attack.

The Taliban has claimed it is working to eliminate ISIS-K’s presence within Afghanistan. Kabulov also mentioned that diplomatic relations are progressing, with Moscow waiting for Kabul to respond to an offer to accredit an Afghan ambassador.

He noted that removing the Taliban from Russia’s terrorist list had cleared the way for broader collaboration. Economic ties are expected to be a major focus, with discussions on joint initiatives such as mineral development and gas pipelines slated for an upcoming business forum in Kazan.