Kazakhstan’s removal of IEA from list of banned groups helps Afghanistan out of isolation: Russia

Kazakhstan’s decision to exclude the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) from its list of banned groups will contribute to bringing Afghanistan out of isolation and help in establishing stability in the region, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.

“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, TASS news agency reported.

The IEA is still on Moscow’s list of banned groups.

The Kazakh authorities decided on Thursday to remove the IEA 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 IEA is not included in the lists of organizations recognized by the UN Security Council as terrorists.