The Taliban has officially applied to participate in the BRICS summit scheduled for October 22 to 24 in Kazan, Russia.Â
This decision is odd considering they are still classified as a terrorist group in the country.
The request came from Nooriddin Azizi, the Taliban’s acting Minister of Commerce and Industry, who wants the group’s top leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar, to represent Afghanistan at the summit.
The group has actually been attending various economic forums in Russia, including the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum for three consecutive years.Â
Though the Russian Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Justice proposed removing them from the list in June.
In the application to Yuri Ushakov, aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azizi stated their desire to send a high-level delegation, including Baradar.
Over the years, the ‘BRICS’ has grown into a geopolitical bloc with huge influence.
South Africa joined in 2010, and recently, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates joined on January 1s this year.
Over 20 country leaders are expected to attend the Kazan summit.
Confirmed attendees are Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The summit will focus on strengthening economic cooperation and global geopolitical tensions.
