Russia Just Recognized the Taliban

Though Russia once listed the Taliban as a terrorist organization, it has increasingly come to see it as an ally against other terrorist groups—notably the Islamic State’s Khorasan Province (ISIS-K). On Thursday, Russia became the first country in the world to recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. The move came after the Kremlin accepted the credentials of a new ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan, on Monday. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that its official recognition should lead to “productive bilateral cooperation.” Russia may not be alone for long...