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Astana lifts 'banned' label from Taliban in effort to aid Kabul — Russian Foreign Ministry

The Kazakh authorities decided on Thursday to remove the Taliban from Astana’s list of banned organizations

MOSCOW, December 29. /TASS/. Kazakhstan's decision to exclude the Taliban movement (banned in Russia) from its list of terrorist organizations will contribute to bringing Afghanistan out of isolation and help in establishing stability in the region, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a commentary.

"We hope that such a decision will affect the development of dialogue with the Afghan authorities in a positive way and strengthen mutual trust, including in the common efforts to maintain regional security and fight terrorism and drug-related crime. This step will contribute to bringing Afghanistan out of international isolation and [will facilitate] its further integration into global political and economic processes, as well as open up new opportunities for humanitarian support for the Afghan population. We also believe that this decision will make a positive impact on the promotion of inter-Afghan reconciliation and contribute to the stabilization of the situation inside the country," the diplomat said.

The Kazakh authorities decided on Thursday to remove the Taliban from Astana’s list of banned organizations. Kazakh Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aibek Smadiarov noted that the decision was made "in accordance with UN practice," as, according to UN Security Council resolutions, the Taliban movement is not included in the lists of organizations recognized by the UN Security Council as terrorist. Kazakhstan will continue to strictly adhere to decisions and resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and General Assembly, Smadiarov emphasized.

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Afghanistan Kazakhstan

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