Moscow: Russia announced on Wednesday that it has elevated Afghanistan's diplomatic representation in Moscow to the ambassadorial level. This decision follows a recent move by Russia to suspend its ban on the activities of the Taliban, a policy shift decided last week.

According to Anadolu Agency, the development was communicated during a meeting between Russian officials and Afghanistan's interim foreign and interior ministers. The Russian delegation included Zamir Kabulov, the presidential envoy for Afghanistan, and Dmitry Zhirnov, Moscow's ambassador to Kabul.

The statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Afghan leaders expressed gratitude for the enhancement of diplomatic relations, which they viewed as a commitment to fostering a robust partnership. The meeting also covered other significant topics concerning the bilateral relations between the two nations.

Russia's Supreme Court had previously suspended the ban on the Taliban, a group that had been classified as a terrorist organization by Moscow since 2003. This change aligns with a legislative move made by Russian lawmakers in December to create a mechanism for suspending bans on terrorist organizations' activities.

The legislative measure did not specify any group by name; however, Leonid Slutsky, the leader of Russia's Liberal Democratic Party, indicated that the mechanism was designed to facilitate legal interactions between Russia and the Taliban. The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021 after nearly two decades of conflict with US-led coalition forces.