Zamir Kabulov, the Russian President’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, has announced that an upcoming visit by a Taliban delegation to Kazan will feature discussions on the construction of a 573-kilometre segment of the Afghan-Trans railway.
In an interview with Izvestia newspaper, Kabulov underscored Afghanistan’s vast mineral resources and its strategic geographic position as key assets for future collaboration. He noted that these advantages could help transform the country into a vital transit hub linking Russia, Central Asia, and South Asia.
This development follows a landmark decision last week by Russia’s Supreme Court to suspend the designation of the Taliban as a terrorist organisation. The move, initiated at the request of the Prosecutor General’s Office, took immediate effect, according to Supreme Court Judge Oleg Nefyodov.
Shortly after the court’s ruling, Kabulov highlighted that Afghanistan’s evolving status creates opportunities for broader engagement. A high-level Taliban delegation is expected to participate in the upcoming “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum”, scheduled for May.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, stating that it paves the way for a comprehensive partnership with Kabul, which could serve the interests of both the Russian and Afghan people.
In line with this shift, Moscow is also looking to expand trade relations with the Taliban-led administration. As part of these efforts, Kabulov travelled to Kabul on Wednesday, where he held bilateral talks with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani.
