Recognition of the Taliban Government in Afghanistan

The Taliban takeover of Kabul is a significant regional development having domestic, regional and global implications. Regarding the recognition of the new Taliban government; recently announced, the important states of the international community are responding with caution based on their strategic calculations, political values and long-term foreign policy goals in the regions adjoining Afghanistan. The states having stakes in Afghanistan are mainly divided in two groups: The US led group and the China-Russia led group of states. The US led group has advocated that the conduct of the Taliban on fundamental human rights, their commitment of forming an inclusive government and their detachment from international terrorist networks will be taken in consideration for deciding on the question of recognition and determining the nature of engagement with Afghanistan. The China-Russia group, is more in favor of regional stability and interested in filling the strategic vacuum left in Afghanistan by the US and its allies. The regional states are realigning themselves, with either of the major group, to respond to the unfolding situation in Afghanistan. Based on the conceptual framework of recognition of new governments in International Law and International Relations, this paper attempts to analyze the responses and concerns of the diverse international community vis-à-vis the newly formed Taliban government in Afghanistan.