Taliban Calls for Removal of Leaders from Blacklist

Taliban requests removal of leaders from blacklists to improve diplomatic relations, but Russia’s timeline is uncertain.

Taliban Calls for Removal of Leaders from Blacklist Sohail Shaheen, head of the Taliban’s political office, has called for the removal of Taliban leaders from international blacklists, stating that the inclusion of Afghan leadership on these lists is hindering Kabul’s diplomatic relations. He emphasized that the names of officials from the Afghan ruling body should be removed to facilitate improved international engagement.

Shaheen stressed the need to eliminate blacklists and other obstacles, stating, “The caretaker government seeks to expand its relations with all nations based on national and bilateral interests.” Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry previously stated that the timeline for removing the Taliban from the list of banned organizations remains uncertain, as such an action requires amendments to Russian law. As a result, the process is expected to be slow.