Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former special representative for Afghanistan, has said the Taliban will not receive international recognition as long as Afghan territory continues to be used by armed groups against neighboring countries.
In an opinion article published by Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper on Saturday, July 18, Durrani wrote that the presence of armed groups, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Islamic State (IS), the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Islamic Movement of Afghanistan, and other militant organizations, remains one of the main reasons for Afghanistan’s continued international isolation.
He also argued that Taliban policies, including the ban on girls’ education and restrictions on women’s employment, have contributed to the country’s worsening economic and humanitarian crisis.
According to Durrani, around 22 million Afghans will require humanitarian assistance in 2026, while declining foreign aid, rising unemployment, and the lack of private investment have further deteriorated the country’s economic situation.
The former Pakistani envoy stressed that, to improve relations with neighboring countries and the broader international community, the Taliban must prevent armed groups from operating from Afghan territory.
