The lack of official diplomatic recognition has implications for regional peace and stability, as well as the potential for Afghan territory to be used as a battleground for international power struggles.
Road and rail projects, apart from those with China, along others that could enhance Afghanistan's economy and improve the standard of living, are currently stalled.
The situation severely impacts both daily life and long-term planning and development in Afghanistan, Retired Brigadier General and Former Executive Director of Bin Qasim City Gwadar, Saeed Dar told Sputnik.
“The dynamics of borders and the vested interests of various nations are negatively impacting Afghanistan,” Dar said. “In particular, the safe havens for ISIS* [Islamic State of Iraq and Ash-Sham], TTP* [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan], and other groups opposing China and certain Central Asian countries are causing ongoing tension between the Afghan interim government and these nations.”
Dar and Bilal Hyder Simair, a Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies, stressed the need for a global solution to the current situation in Afghanistan.
They said the issue remains critical, with the Taliban's lack of foreign recognition and active militant groups complicating prospects for international engagement, spelling implications for the region and enabling non-state actors to pursue their agendas.
The West remains unwilling to recognize the Taliban government, provide a clear roadmap for South Asia's future or cease its proxy actions in the region.
He believes, the United States could play a greater role in sabotaging the peaceful economic growth of China by funding and investing in Afghanistan through third parties.
“If the CPEC [China-Pakistan Economic Corridor] route is filled with terrorism, instability, and chaos, and militants can reach Pakistan's Swat, they could easily move further and strike vital import areas beyond the district, forcing China to seek alternatives, if any,” Simair underscored.
He added that nations in Eurasia, particularly China and Russia, will eventually try to improve their relationships with the Afghan Taliban government to secure a strategic location and diminish US influence in the region.
Dar argued that joint ventures and economic integration contribute to the overall development and integration of Afghan society, particularly in human resources, which are currently lacking and could negatively impact Afghanistan in the form of militancy and terrorism.
*a terrorist organization banned in Russia and other states
** terrorist organization banned in Russia