Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) has sharply criticised Russia’s decision to recognise Taliban regime, warning that such moves legitimise extremist organisations and undermine constitutional order across Central Asia.
In a statement issued Friday, the anti-Taliban resistance group said Moscow’s engagement with the Taliban amounts to “formalising the status of terrorist groups” and risks emboldening regional militants including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Ansarullah Tajikistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Islamic State-Khorasan, al-Qaida and Hizb ut-Tahrir.
The threat of terrorism and religious extremism at the gates of Central Asia is real and immediate, the AFF said. The group added that recognising the Taliban is a green light for like-minded factions now preparing to establish similar regimes in the region.
The front argued that the Taliban’s seizure of power in 2021 directly fuelled the resurgence of armed extremist networks across neighbouring states. Given the group’s ideological alignment with those organisations, the statement added, it is impossible to distinguish the Taliban from their twin, allied and co-operative terrorist groups.
AFF leaders warned that diplomatic acceptance of the Taliban by “a major, civilised country such as Russia” will further motivate militants to pursue cross-border ambitions and destabilise Central Asia.
Russia has not formally recognised the Taliban government but last month agreed to accept a Taliban-nominated ambassador in Moscow after removing the movement from its list of proscribed organisations, a step that has drawn criticism from Western governments and Afghan opposition factions alike.
