Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid has accused the US of putting pressure on other nations over recognition of the hardline Islamic group's regime in Kabul.
Despite worldwide condemnation over the curtailment of women's rights in Afghanistan, including restrictions on their education and employment, Mujahid stated that the Taliban has fulfilled all the requirements needed to be recognized by the international community.
"We've completed the requirements that a government should have. There aren't any requirements left to be met so that the world won't recognize us as a result," the acting Defense Minister of Afghanistan was quoted as saying by Afghan media outlet Tolo News.
"It might take some time for them to be ready to recognize us, but we ask countries that are not under the pressure of America and can recognize us, to recognize the government of Afghanistan," he added.
Mujahid subsequently appealed to the world's Muslim nations to recognize the Taliban government.
"In particular, we ask the world's powerful Islamic countries to recognize us, and this is in the interest of all the countries," the minister noted.
Unlike their previous rule in Afghanistan which lasted from 1996 to 2001, when it was recognized by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Pakistan, no foreign country has accepted the Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate rulers this time around.
Foreign nations, including Russia, have raised tough questions in front of the Taliban over the matter, urging the group to pull back its restrictions imposed on women.
Mujahid subsequently appealed to the world's Muslim nations to recognize the Taliban government.
"In particular, we ask the world's powerful Islamic countries to recognize us, and this is in the interest of all the countries," the minister noted.
Unlike their previous rule in Afghanistan which lasted from 1996 to 2001, when it was recognized by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Pakistan, no foreign country has accepted the Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate rulers this time around.
Foreign nations, including Russia, have raised tough questions in front of the Taliban over the matter, urging the group to pull back its restrictions imposed on women.
Additionally, the international community has repeatedly asked the Taliban to form an inclusive government, including ethnic minorities.
"We cannot discuss the beginning of the official recognition process of the Taliban government until the commitments I am referring to include the formation of an ethnically and politically balanced government, stepping up measures to combat terrorism and drug trafficking, and ensuring basic human rights for all people living in Afghanistan, including Tajiks," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in Dushanbe last month.
*The Taliban is under UN sanctions over extremism.