After taking over Afghanistan, the Taliban regime faces a challenge of recognition

Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani (6th L) is meeting with the new Afghan Prime Minister, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund (7th L), in Kabul. (AFP)

KABUL: After taking over Afghanistan and announcing the country’s troubled government, the Taliban regime faces the challenge of gaining recognition, local media reported on Monday.
Last week the Taliban formed the interim “Islamic Emirate”, naming forts its new government that oversaw the 20-year struggle against the US-led military coalition.
The restoration of the Islamic emirate could be the second major obstacle in the Taliban government’s global recognition, the Daily Times reported.
According to the publication, the world will wait to assess whether the Taliban is fulfilling its commitment to guarantees to prevent foreign militant groups, including Al Qaeda, from using Afghan land against the US and its allies.
Earlier, Taliban authorities removed the Afghanistan national flag from the presidential palace and hoisted its flag on top of the palace.
Meanwhile, Russia, the United States, Japan, Canada, France and the United Kingdom have expressed that countries do not plan to recognize the Taliban government.
Pakistan is one of three countries that had been recognized by the previous Taliban government (1996-2001), but it seems that the country is in no hurry to recognize the new Taliban government and will wait to see what friendly and other countries do. Others were Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the Daily Times reported.
Qatar, which is considered the only country very close to the Taliban, has also not yet given any clues to recognizing the regime.
In addition, the acting Prime Minister of the new Taliban government, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, met with Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. Al-Thani arrived in Kabul on Sunday to meet with Taliban leaders, Sputnik reported.
During the meeting at the Presidential Palace in Afghanistan, the two sides discussed bilateral relations, humanitarian assistance, the future economic development of Afghanistan and international engagement with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
The visit came days after the Taliban announced an interim government in Afghanistan on September 7th.