Recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

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Following the first capture of Kabul, the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan government ruled Afghanistan as a "limited recognised government" for the next five years. Since the second capture of Kabul on 15 August 2021 by the Taliban, the organisation has restored its government^[1][2][3] and currently is the de facto ruling national government in Afghanistan.^[4][5][6] Currently there have been no serious attempts made by former president Ashraf Ghani to form a government in exile, leaving the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as the de facto recognized government of Afghanistan by the international community.^[7]

1996–2001[]

Between 1996 and 2001, only three widely recognized countries; Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) declared the Islamic Emirate to be the rightful government of Afghanistan.^[8] The Islamic Emirate would also receive recognition from the partially recognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria;^[9] though Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov would later describe the Islamic Emirate as an "illegitimate" government.^[10] The Taliban government additionally received support from Turkmenistan, though the country did not provide the Emirate with formal recognition.^[11]

The Taliban government was not recognized by the United Nations, which instead continued to recognize the Islamic State of Afghanistan as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

2021–present[]

Vendor selling Islamic Emirate apparel in Kabul, September 2021

Despite no countries recognizing the Islamic Emirate as the legitimate successor of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, there have been official diplomatic talks between the Taliban and other countries since September 2021.

National governments[]

• According to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, "We make no premature commitments to engage with an Afghan administration that is Taliban led." Australia will support international efforts to maintain pressure on the Taliban and any future Afghan administration to meet its responsibilities to its people, its region and the wider world.^[12]
• According to the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, AK Abdul Momen, "If a Taliban government is formed, which has been done, our door will be open to them if it is a government of the people" and "No matter which new government is formed, we will accept if it is of the people". Both Bangladesh and Afghanistan have good diplomatic relations, with the minister considering Bangladesh as a "potential development partner and a friend of Afghanistan".^[13]
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that Canada will not recognize the Islamic Emirate as the legitimate government of Afghanistan and that the Taliban would remain a banned organisation in Canada.^[14]
• A spokesperson for the foreign ministry of the People's Republic of China stated that China "respects the wishes and choices of the Afghan people" and hopes for "friendship and cooperation" with the new authorities.^[15][16] China also hopes to seek assurances from the Taliban that they will not support the UN-proscribed Turkistan Islamic Party or allow them to operate from Afghan territory.^[15]
• French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, has stated that France "refuses to recognise or have any type of relationship with this government".^[17][18]
• Czech Foreign Minister, Jakub Kulhánek, has stated that the Czech Republic will "by no means recognise the Taliban under any circumstances" but did not rule out dialogue with the group.^[19][20]
• President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran has said the US "military failure" in Afghanistan offers an opportunity to establish lasting peace in the country. Iranian state TV quoted him as saying that "America's military defeat and its withdrawal must become an opportunity to restore life, security and durable peace in Afghanistan".^[21][22]
• Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah has stated that Malaysia is undecided on whether to recognise the Taliban and will take a very cautious approach.^[23]
• Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in a denunciation of English-language education in Pakistan, stated that Afghans have "broken the shackles of slavery".^[24] Foreign Minister Fawad Chaudhry stated that Pakistan would not recognise a Taliban-led government without consultations with regional and international partners, adding that he was pleased that the transfer of power took place without bloodshed.^[25][26] The Pakistani Representative to the United Nations referred to the government led by Ashraf Ghani as "a now defunct regime" and criticized both the participation of the Afghan representative appointed by Ghani as well as being blocked from addressing the India-presided UN Security Council at a meeting of the security council.^[27] The Pakistani government claimed that Mir Rahman Rahmani, the Speaker of the Loya Jirga (note: until the Fall of Kabul) met Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and agreed to engage with the Taliban to form an inclusive government.^[27] Pakistani National Security Advisor, Moeed Yusuf, has warned that the West risks a second 9/11 situation if it doesn’t “immediately recognise” the Taliban.^[28]
• Russia has not recognized the Islamic Emirate as the lawful authority of Afghanistan.^[29] Ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, is due to meet a Taliban representative on 9/15 to discuss security for the embassy in Kabul, which will remain open. Moscow has said it hopes to develop ties with the Taliban, although it also says it is in no rush to recognize them as the country's rulers.^[21] On August 16, 2021, Zhirnov praised the group and stated that "the situation is peaceful and good and everything has calmed down in the city. The situation in Kabul now under the Taliban is better than it was under Ashraf Ghani." On October 21, 2021, Putin announced the removal of the Taliban from Russia's list of banned organizations.^[30]
• The Saudi Arabian Embassy opened on 30th November 2021.^[31]
• Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares announced that the country would not recognize the Taliban government "imposed by force", although they did not rule out the possibility of keeping "operational contact" with the Taliban government to continue with the evacuation procedure.^[32]
• Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Turkey was in no rush to recognize the Taliban government.^[33]
• British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged other countries not to recognize the Islamic Emirate as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.^[34] Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has stated that the UK "will not recognise the Taliban as the new government in Kabul" but will be willing to engage in direct communications with the group.^[35]
• Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview that the United States will not recognize any government that harbors terrorist groups or does not uphold basic human rights.^[36] The US State Department later declined to say if the United States still recognized Ashraf Ghani as the President of Afghanistan.^[37]
• The UAE's embassy opened on 30th November 2021.^[38]

International organizations[]

• The United Nations has called for "the establishment, through inclusive negotiations, of a government that is united, inclusive and representative with the full, equal and meaningful participation of women".^[39] Ghulam M. Isaczai, the Afghan representative to the United Nations, who was appointed by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, continued to represent the country at a meeting of the Security Council held on 16 August 2021.^[40] On 22 December 2021 the UN adopted a resolution aimed at facilitating aid to Afghanistan.^[41]
• The European Union's HR/VP Josep Borrell stated that the EU "will have to get in touch with the authorities in Kabul, whatever they are. The Taliban have won the war, so we will have to talk with them" but that the EU had no plans to recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.^[42] On 23 January 2022, the EU's embassy officially opened following the meeting between Taliban officials and other European officials in Oslo.^[43]

See also[]

• Foreign relations of Afghanistan

References[]