Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, has lauded Russia's deliberation on excluding the group from its roster of terrorist organisations, labelling the gesture "a prudent and realistic action”.

The Russian Foreign Ministry disclosed that the proposal to remove the Taliban from the nation's terrorist organisations list is currently under assessment.

According to reports from Taliban-operated National Radio on Tuesday, Mujahid stated that the Taliban “has been a movement dedicated to Afghanistan's independence, accurately reflecting the aspirations of the Afghan populace”.

He underscored the practicality of Russia's potential delisting of the Taliban, urging other nations to adopt a realistic stance towards the group.

Despite Mujahid's assertions that the Taliban are the "authentic representatives" of the Afghan people, the international community is yet to formally recognise the regime as Afghanistan's legitimate government. Moreover, several recognised political factions within Afghanistan continue to question its legitimacy.

Nonetheless, Mujahid expressed optimism that other countries' willingness to engage with the Taliban could lead to commendable outcomes.

He further suggested that acknowledging the real situation regarding the Taliban could foster trust between the group and international entities, potentially catalysing substantial progress in the global political and diplomatic fields.