“Pakistan is in no hurry to recognise the Afghan Taliban government and any decision will be made keeping the country’s interest in mind,” Pakistan officers have mentioned.
The remarks got here days after Russia turned the primary nation to formally recognise the Taliban’s rule. Moscow’s choice, some observers really feel, could also be a prelude to different regional nations lastly embracing the Taliban.
However, officers in Pakistan advised The Express Tribune newspaper that the choice of Russia was not a shock, as Moscow for a while had indicated they’d reconcile with the truth that the Taliban have been now in cost and there was no different possibility however to settle for their rule.
The authorized challenges in recognising the Taliban
The Russian choice additionally stems from the truth that higher engagement with the Taliban authorities would assist deal with the terrorist menace and advance its geostrategic pursuits. “We, of course, will take a decision keeping in view our interest. I can tell you there is no hurry,” mentioned a Pakistani official when requested whether or not Islamabad would additionally recognise the Taliban rule.
A supply, nonetheless, didn’t rule out the potential of Pakistan taking a extra pragmatic method if different regional gamers comply with the Russian footsteps. At his weekly information briefing on Friday (July 4, 2025), Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan reacted cautiously to Moscow’s choice, saying it was a matter between two sovereign states. In any case, the supply mentioned, Pakistan has a strong engagement with the Taliban dominated Kabul. “The de facto recognition is there,” the supply mentioned.
Pakistan has given no hints about formally recognising the Taliban authorities, however agreed to improve the diplomatic ties. Last month, after a trilateral assembly of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Chinese Foreign Ministers in Beijing, Islamabad and Kabul determined to elevate their diplomatic ties.
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Both sides are in a course of to fulfil their obligations earlier than formally appointing ambassadors in one another’s capitals. China is believed to have performed a key position in brokering the deal in the hope that higher engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan would deal with safety issues.
One of the explanations that Pakistan has not but recognised the Taliban authorities is the unresolved subject of terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan. But the Afghan authorities just lately took sure steps, which Pakistan thinks may make a distinction.
One main such transfer contains the Taliban authorities’s crackdown on Afghan nationals who have been becoming a member of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Sources mentioned that it’s in the Taliban’s curiosity to deal with the safety issues of Pakistan and different neighbouring nations.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have regularly improved for the reason that go to of Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Kabul. Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is predicted to journey to Islamabad later this month.
He was to go to Pakistan final month, however the journey was delayed owing to the Iran-Israel battle. During his go to, the 2 sides would assessment bilateral ties and choices taken when Dar was in Kabul in April, in accordance to the report.
