Today: 23 June 2025
28 May 2024
1 min read

Russia invites Taliban to top economic forum in June

Some questions remain, Kabulov was quoted as saying, though he said that an invitation to attend the June 5-8 St Petersburg international economic forum had been extended to the Taliban…reports Asian Lite News

Russia has invited Afghanistan’s Taliban to its biggest annual economic forum as Moscow moves to remove a ban on the Islamist movement, a senior Russian diplomat was quoted as saying on Monday.

Since the Taliban seized power in August 2021 as US-led forces withdrew after 20 years of war, Russia has been slowly building ties with the Taliban, though the movement is still officially outlawed in Russia.

Russia’s foreign and justice ministries have reported to President Vladimir Putin on the issue of removing the ban, Zamir Kabulov, director of the Second Asia Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told state news agency TASS.

Some questions remain, Kabulov was quoted as saying, though he said that an invitation to attend the June 5-8 St Petersburg international economic forum had been extended to the Taliban.

The St Petersburg forum, which once hosted Western CEOs and investment bankers from London and New York, has changed significantly amid the Ukraine war which has triggered the biggest crisis in Russia’s relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

Western investors seeking a slice of Russia’s vast resource wealth have now been replaced by businesses from China, India, Africa and the Middle East.

The Taliban, which means “students” in the Pashto language, emerged in 1994 around the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. It was one of the factions fighting a civil war for control of the country following the withdrawal of the Soviet Union and subsequent collapse of the government.

It originally drew members from so-called “mujahideen” fighters who, with support from the United States, repelled Soviet forces in the 1980s.

In 2003, Russia formally labelled the Taliban a terrorist organisation, though it had periodic informal contacts with the movement.

ALSO READ-Kremlin says NATO in direct conflict with Russia

Previous Story

Netanyahu calls Israeli strike on Rafah ‘tragic mistake’

Next Story

UN refugee agency says attacks on Rafah ‘horrifying’

Latest from -Top News

Oman Breaks Gulf Taboo on Income Tax

There is no other country in the 6-member Gulf Cooperation Council that imposes income tax….reports Asian Lite News Oman has officially become the first Gulf country to introduce a personal income tax,

Fresh Israeli Raids Hit Iran

The strikes came shortly after Iran fired a missile at Israel before dawn and triggered air raid sirens across much of the country….reports Asian Lite News Israel conducted a new wave of

Netanyahu: Iran Goals Near

Netanyahu pledged not to let Israel get dragged into a “war of attrition” with Tehran…reports Asian Lite News Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Sunday that Israel is “very close” to

Khamenei Vows Payback

Calling the attacks “a big crime,” Khamenei warned of retaliation….reports Asian Lite News Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday, in his first reaction following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear

US committed great crime: Iran

Iran has now called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and demanded the IAEA Board of Governors address the situation….reports Asian Lite News Iran has strongly condemned the United
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Russia Fails to Break Ukrainian Spirit: UK Envoy

Commending the courageous work of Ukrainian organizations and volunteer networks

Veiled Afghan Women Stage Pro-Taliban Rally in Kabul

The women were carrying with them Taliban flags while the