ASTANA: The Kazakh government has demonstrated its pragmatic and responsible approach to the situation in Afghanistan by announcing that it has updated its list of terrorist organisations. The update reflects the current reality in the neighbouring country, where the Taliban has become the de facto ruling group.
Aibek Smadiyarov, the spokesperson for the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, said in a televised interview that the update was made by the country’s Security Council, and that it was based on the UN practice. He explained that the Taliban was not recognised as a terrorist organisation by the UN Security Council, and that Kazakhstan would continue to follow the UN decisions and resolutions regarding Afghanistan.
He also said that Kazakhstan has been engaging with the Taliban, sending several official delegations to Kabul since the group took over Afghanistan following the US-led military withdrawal in mid-2021. He said that this was done to protect the interests of the Kazakh people and to promote peace and stability in the region.
The Russian Foreign Ministry welcomed Kazakhstan’s decision to remove the Taliban from its terror list, saying that it would boost the dialogue and trust between the Kazakh and Afghan governments, and help them work together on regional security and anti-terrorism and anti-drug efforts.
The ministry said that this decision would also help Afghanistan end its international isolation and join the global political and economic community, and enable more humanitarian aid to reach the Afghan people.
The ministry hoped that this decision would support the peace and stability in Afghanistan by encouraging the inter-Afghan dialogue and reconciliation.
