Khairullah Khairkhwa, Taliban’s Minister of Information and Culture, has claimed that the group has fulfilled all conditions necessary for international recognition and urged other countries to follow Russia’s lead in recognising Taliban.
In an interview with the state-run Bakhtar News Agency, Khairkhwa said official recognition of the Taliban would have a positive impact on Afghanistan’s economy and help attract foreign investment.
He stressed that the international community must accept the reality, and added that security has been restored in Afghanistan, narcotics production has been halted, and corruption has been eradicated. According to the minister, these achievements are significant not only for Afghanistan, but for the entire world.
Khairkhwa added that several countries are already engaging with the Taliban and are, in his view, close to recognising the group’s rule. He argued that Russia’s move toward recognition would have positive regional and global repercussions, and that it would encourage international investors to return to Afghanistan.
He also claimed that the Taliban, for the first time in decades, have succeeded in establishing centralised authority across the entire country.
Despite such assertions, most governments and international organisations maintain that the Taliban have not met the key conditions required for recognition. These include forming an inclusive government, ensuring respect for human rights especially women’s rights, and taking credible action against terrorism and drug trafficking.
Many Western and regional governments continue to express concern over the presence of terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory. Pakistan has accused the Taliban of allowing fighters from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch separatist groups to use Afghan soil to launch cross-border attacks, with thousands of militants reportedly based in Afghanistan.
The United Nations and independent international monitors have also raised alarm over the activities of ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan Province), while reports suggest al-Qaeda is attempting to re-establish itself in the country.
In addition, the presence of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Uyghur militants, and Ansarullah in Afghanistan is viewed as a serious security concern by China and Central Asian states.
