Russia removes Taliban from terrorist list and calls for Western support for Afghanistan's reconstruction

Russia has decided to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, a move announced by the foreign ministry. This decision, made at a high level, requires legal procedures to be finalized. The Taliban has been on the list since 2003. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized the need for the West to lift sanctions on Afghanistan and take responsibility for its reconstruction. He highlighted the importance of maintaining dialogue with the Afghan government and praised its efforts against drug production and terrorism. The Taliban's acting foreign minister welcomed the decision and recent actions by Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to remove the group from their banned lists. Lavrov also called for increased humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, stating that Russia would continue to provide essential goods.