Taliban Rejects Turkic States’ Call For Inclusive Afghan Government

The Taliban has dismissed the Organisation of Turkic States’ plea for an inclusive Afghan government as an internal affair.

Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Saturday that “the wishes and suggestions of our people will be taken into consideration,” but insisted that Afghans alone must resolve domestic issues.

In their 21 May statement, the OTS leaders representing Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan had urged Kabul to form a government reflecting Afghanistan’s ethnic diversity and to strengthen coordination against terrorism. They described the country’s Turkic communities as a “unique bridge” to the wider Turkic world.

Mujahid did not address inclusivity directly, instead calling on other nations to fulfil their responsibilities through economic support. He reaffirmed the Taliban’s desire for strong diplomatic and trade ties with Turkic-speaking states and stated that Afghan territory would not be used to threaten any country.

Despite repeated international appeals from the UN, regional powers and Western governments, the Taliban have so far appointed an all-male administration drawn exclusively from their own ranks, ignoring demands for broader representation.