Russia is prepared to support the Taliban in combating the Afghan branch of the Islamic State, known as ISIS-K, according to President Vladimir Putin’s envoy to Afghanistan, as reported by state media on Friday.

Zamir Kabulov, Putin’s special representative, stated to the state-run RIA Novosti news agency that the Kremlin recognizes and values the Taliban’s efforts against ISIS-K.

“This organization, which adheres to an extremely radical ideology of global jihad, poses a shared threat to both Russia and Afghanistan,” he reportedly said.

“We are ready to extend all possible support to the authorities of this country through specialized agencies,” Kabulov asserted.

ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the attack on a Moscow concert venue in March 2024, which resulted in the deaths of 145 people. In the aftermath, Putin referred to the Taliban as Russia’s “ally” in the battle against terrorism.

Since the Taliban regained power in 2021 after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, Russia has been steadily strengthening its relationship with the group.

On April 17, Russia’s Supreme Court removed the Taliban from its list of designated terrorist organizations, a classification it had held since 2003.

This development, which stops short of officially recognizing the Taliban’s government, reflects the Kremlin’s pivot towards new regional partnerships following the disruption of ties with traditional allies due to the invasion of Ukraine.

Additionally, various Russian officials have urged Western nations to lift sanctions imposed on the Islamist group.

During the 1980s, the Soviet Union engaged in a protracted war in Afghanistan, leading to the rise of mujahideen fighters, many of whom later became Taliban leaders. Historians often argue that this conflict contributed to the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union.