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Former UK defence chief urges the West to ‘recognise’ the IEA
The former head of the UK’s armed forces, General Sir David Richards, has called on Western countries to formally recognise the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
Richards, the UK Chief of Defence Staff from 2010 to 2013, said it was time to accept that the war in Afghanistan had been lost and work with the IEA, BBC reported on Monday.
No country has yet recognised the Afghan administration, which seized power in August following a lightning offensive bolstered by the withdrawal of US and NATO troops.
“I think the West is going to end up recognising the Taliban (IEA) government. If that’s the case, then we better get on with it sooner rather than later,” said Richards in a BBC Radio 4 broadcast.
Calls for the West to recognise the IEA, and in the process unlock frozen foreign assets, have increased amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said last week that his administration had “come closer” to their “goal” of recognition.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, has announced that Tashkent and Ashgabat have coinciding approaches to facilitate the peaceful development of Afghanistan.
Speaking on Friday at the International Forum on Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Mirziyoyev said that Afghanistan’s development can be achieved by integrating the country into regional economic processes and strengthening infrastructure connectivity.
At the conference, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan, also referred to the establishment of a United Nations regional center for the Sustainable Development Goals in Almaty and emphasized the continuation of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
Speaking at a high-level forum in Turkmenistan dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust 2025, the International Day of Neutrality, and the 30th Anniversary of Turkmenistan’s status of permanent neutrality, Sharif said the region is once again facing a rising threat.
“The scourge of terrorism is raising its head yet again, and this time unfortunately from Afghan soil,” he stated. “As we are dealing with this menace, we need the international community to urge the Afghan Taliban regime (IEA) to fulfil its international obligations and commitments and rein in terrorist elements operating from its territory.”
Sharif also expressed appreciation for regional countries that have been working to de-escalate conflicts and promote stability.
“We are very grateful to our brotherly countries — Qatar, Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran — for their sincere desire and efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire, which as I speak is still very fragile,” he added.
Pakistani officials have repeatedly claimed that attacks in the country are organized by militants operating from Afghan soil.
The Islamic Emirate, however, denies the allegation, saying it cannot be held responsible for security in Pakistan.
Trade between the two countries was halted on October 11 following airstrikes in Afghanistan and clashes near the Durand Line.
Türkiye stands ready to help sustain the truce between Pakistan and Afghanistan, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif during their meeting on Friday on the sidelines of the International Peace and Trust Forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
According to Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications, Erdogan said Ankara is committed to strengthening its “good relations” with Islamabad and will work to deepen cooperation in energy, trade and investment.
Welcoming the recent extension of the Pakistan-Afghanistan ceasefire, Erdogan noted Ankara’s readiness to contribute to the mechanism established to maintain the absence of conflict.
Pakistani officials have repeatedly claimed that attacks in the country are organized by militants operating from Afghan soil.
The Islamic Emirate, however, denies the allegation, saying it cannot be held responsible for security in Pakistan.
Trade between the two countries was halted on October 11 following airstrikes in Afghanistan and clashes near the Durand Line.
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