Recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

The Taliban has ruled Afghanistan as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan since taking control by force in 2021, overthrowing the internationally recognized Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The takeover was widely criticized by the international community. As of July 2025, only one member state of the United Nations, Russia, ^[1] has extended diplomatic recognition to the new regime, even though many states maintain nominal relations with Afghanistan.

The Taliban previously ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and received limited diplomatic recognition, with the United Nations and most countries continuing to recognize the Islamic State of Afghanistan. The Taliban has campaigned for international recognition since the takeover, gradually taking over the Islamic Republic's foreign diplomatic missions. Ousted president Ashraf Ghani has largely remained silent since the takeover, and has not formed a government-in-exile. Ghani's vice president Amrullah Saleh declared himself caretaker president and relocated to Panjshir Province after the Taliban takeover with the support of the National Resistance Front (NRF). However, he fled Afghanistan after the Taliban quickly captured the province. Although the NRF continues to wage a guerrilla insurgency, it has failed to take any territory and neither Saleh nor the NRF have received any international support, leaving the Taliban as the only viable claimant to Afghanistan's government. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

Several countries have vowed never to recognize the Islamic Emirate, and others have said they will do so only if human rights in the country are respected (in particular, those of women). Some countries have accredited Taliban diplomats despite not recognizing the Islamic Emirate, and some have appointed new ambassadors to Afghanistan which have been accepted by the Taliban. Other countries, including Canada and Tajikistan, have designated the Taliban as a terrorist organization. ^{[6] [7] [8]} Kazakhstan removed the prohibition in 2023 after a controversial business forum featuring Afghan Minister Nooruddin Azizi. ^[9]

1996–2001

Between 1996 and 2001, only three UN member states—Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—recognized the Islamic Emirate as the rightful government of Afghanistan. ^[10] The Islamic Emirate received recognition from the partially recognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, ^[11] though Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov would later describe the Islamic Emirate as an "illegitimate" government. ^[12]

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

See also: International relations with the Taliban

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (Left) with Taliban Third Deputy Leader and Head of the Political Office Abdul Ghani Baradar (Right) in Doha, Qatar in 2020

Despite limited recognition of 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

• Then-Australian minister for foreign affairs Marise Payne said in 2021, "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. ^[13]
• According to the former 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". ^[14]
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Canada would not recognize the Islamic Emirate as the legitimate government of Afghanistan and that the Taliban would remain a banned organization in Canada. ^[15]
• 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. ^{[16] [17]} 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. ^[16] In March 2022, Wang Yi, foreign minister of China, visited Kabul and met with the acting foreign minister of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi. ^[18] China nominated Zhao Sheng as the ambassador to Afghanistan in September 2023, becoming the first country to appoint an ambassador since Taliban's takeover. ^[19] In January 2024, China was the first country to accredit a Taliban-appointed ambassador; however, the PRC still does not formally recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. ^[20]
• Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhánek stated that the Czech Republic will "by no means recognize the Taliban under any circumstances" but did not rule out dialogue with the group. ^{[21] [22]}
• French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stated that France "refuses to recognize or have any type of relationship with this government". ^[23]
• The Indian Government initially didn't recognize the new Afghan government, seeing them as a threat to their own stability. However it has since improved their relations with the Emirate, calling for cooperation and mutual development. Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India for a week, which brought both countries even closer. ^{[24] [25]}
• In the aftermath of the Fall of Kabul, former of Indonesian vice president Jusuf Kalla believed that Indonesia would not sever the diplomatic connection between Indonesia and Afghanistan. Indonesian constitutional experts have urged the Indonesian government to not hastily recognize Afghanistan under the Taliban government as they deemed the transfer of power to have taken place without constitutional means. These concerns were voiced on 17 August 2021 and were formalized with a statement by the Commission of Constitutional Studies of People's Consultative Assembly three days later. On 26 August 2021, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi met Taliban officials and representatives in Qatar. In the meeting, she urged to her Taliban counterpart to (1) ensure stability and prosperity of Afghanistan, (2) form an inclusive government, (3) maintain respect, dignities, and basic rights to Afghan women. ^[26]
• Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said that the U.S. "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". ^{[27] [28]} Iran accredited the Taliban's nominee for Chargé d'Affairs, Mohammad Afzal Haqqani, on 26 February 2023, and handed over the embassy in Tehran. ^[29]
• Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah has stated that the government is undecided on recognition and will adopt a cautious approach. ^[30] However, under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia has expressed a willingness to cooperate with Taliban-led Afghanistan, particularly through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). While Malaysia is open to engaging with Afghanistan, it maintains a firm stance on the right of women and girls to education, despite the Taliban's restrictions on women's rights. ^[31]
• Burmese Minister of International Cooperation Ko Ko Hlaing took aim at "externally enforced democratization" and blamed American foreign intervention for the fall of the government. ^[32]
• Nicaragua appointed a non-resident ambassador to Afghanistan stationed in Beijing in 2024. Then-vice president Rosario Murillo stated he formally presented his credentials to Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. ^[33]
• Qatar has served as the main diplomatic hub of the Taliban since 2012, when the Taliban's Political Office opened there, with the assistance of the Qatari government. The office hosted senior Taliban diplomats; the head of the Political Office is a member of the Taliban's governing Leadership Council. From 2019 until the recapture of the country, Third Deputy Leader Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban, was stationed in Qatar as the head of the Political Office. He negotiated and signed the United States–Taliban deal in Qatar, and arranged for the handover of Kabul with U.S. military leaders. Baradar returned to Afghanistan on 17 August 2021, and Suhail Shaheen took over the Political Office, which continues to serve as a diplomatic hub for the Taliban. The Taliban has since also been allowed to take over the Embassy of Afghanistan in Qatar. Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has made numerous visits to Qatar to meet with both Qatari and other world leaders, and has visited Qatar more than any other country.
• Russia is currently the only country, since 3 July 2025, that officially recognizes the Taliban as the de facto leaders of Afghanistan. ^[34] As a part of this move, flag of the Islamic Emirate has been raised at Russia's embassy in Moscow. While unlikely to spark widespread global acceptance (especially from the West due to human rights concerns), it Russia's recognition of the country could enhance the Taliban's legitimacy, attract more investment, and reshape Afghan diplomacy. ^[35]
• In August 2021, Saudi Arabia evacuated all of its diplomats from its embassy in Kabul during the Taliban offensive. Although Saudi Arabia does not recognize the re-established Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Saudi embassy re-opened on 30 November 2021 to provide consular services to Afghan citizens. ^[36] In December 2024 the Saudi government announced is resumption of its embassy in Kabul and its operations under the Islamic Emirate. ^[37]
• In August 2021, 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. ^{[38] [ needs update ]}
• In a September 2021 address to the United Nations General Assembly, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon criticized the Taliban for its "failure to deliver on its earlier promises to form a comprehensive government with the broad participation of Afghan political and ethnic forces." ^[39] While the Afghan consulate in Khorog is administered by the Taliban government, as of May 2024, the embassy in Dushanbe is led by the ambassador previously appointed by the former Islamic Republic. ^[40] Tajikistan has also sought to exclude the Taliban government from participating in regional organizations, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. ^[41]
• In September 2021, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Turkey was in no rush to recognize the Taliban government. ^[42] In March 2022, however, Çavuşoğlu has expressed the intention to internationally recognize the Islamic Emirate. ^[43]
• In March 2022, Turkmenistan accepted the credentials of the Taliban's appointee for chargé d'affaires to the Afghan Embassy in Ashgabat, Fazal Muhammad Sabir, without formally recognizing the Islamic Emirate. A ceremony held at the embassy was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Wafa Khadzhiev. ^{[44] [45] [46]}
• In August 2024, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov made a working visit to Kabul, the highest-ranking foreign leader to do so since the Taliban retook power. ^[47] In October 2024, Oybek Usmonov, Uzbekistan's former deputy foreign minister and ambassador to Pakistan, was appointed as ambassador to Afghanistan. ^[48] The governments of Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have engaged in dialogue regarding the Qoshtepa Canal, which Uzbekistan worries may threaten its water security; President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated, "it is imperative to form a joint working group to study all aspects of the construction of the Qosh Tepa Canal and its effect on the water regime of the Amu Darya.” ^[49]
• The UAE's embassy opened on 30 November 2021. ^[50] In December 2022, second deputy leader of Afghanistan and acting defense minister Mullah Yaqoob met with UAE President Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. Al Nahyan met First Deputy Leader Sirajuddin Haqqani in Abu Dhabi June 2024. The United Arab Emirates accredited a Taliban-appointed ambassador in August 2024 despite not recognizing the Islamic Emirate. ^{[51] [52] [53]} In March 2023 Taliban opened Consulate-General in Dubai. ^[54]
• In August 2021, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged other countries not to recognize the Islamic Emirate as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. ^[55] In September, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab stated that the UK "will not recognize the Taliban as the new government in Kabul" but would be willing to engage in direct communications with the group. ^[56]
• In August 2021, 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. ^[57] The U.S. State Department later declined to say if the United States still recognized Ashraf Ghani as the president of Afghanistan. ^[58]

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". ^[59] 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. ^[60] The second Taliban government is not recognized by the United Nations, which instead continues to recognize the Islamic Republic as the country's legitimate government. On 1 December 2021, the nine-nation Credentials Committee of the General Assembly voted to defer a decision to allow the Taliban to represent Afghanistan at the UN. ^[61] On 22 December 2021, the UN adopted a resolution aimed at facilitating aid to Afghanistan. ^[62] On 15 February 2022, the UN released an updated list of member state officials with the names of Ghani administration officials removed. ^[63] In May 2024, the UN suspended Afghanistan's voting rights in the UN General Assembly over failure to pay the UN membership fees. ^[64]
• 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. ^[65] On 23 January 2022, the EU's embassy officially opened following the meeting between Taliban officials and other European officials in Oslo. ^[66]
• Most world sports governing bodies do not recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Either the Taliban flag is banned from competition or athletes are forced to compete as neutral. This includes the International Olympic Committee.

United Nations votes

On 10 November 2022, the United Nations passed resolution A/RES/77/10 titled "The situation in Afghanistan." 116 countries voted yes, 10 countries voted to abstain, and 67 did not vote. No countries voted against the resolution. ^[67]

On 7 July 2025, the United Nations passed resolution A/79/L.100 with the same title as the 2022 resolution; the resolution requests the Secretary-General appoint a coordinator for Afghan international relations. ^[68]

See also

• Foreign relations of Afghanistan
• List of international trips made by Amir Khan Muttaqi as Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan
• International relations with the Taliban

References

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