ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan is in no hurry to recognise the Afghan Taliban government, officials said on Saturday days after Russia became the first country to formally accept Taliban controlled Kabul as legitimate dispensation.
Moscow’s decision, some observers feel, may be a prelude to other regional countries finally embracing the Taliban.
However, officials in Pakistan said the decision of Russia was not a surprise as Moscow for sometimes had indicated they would reconcile with the fact that the Taliban were now in charge and there was no other option but to accept their rule.
The Russian decision also stems from the fact that greater engagement with the Taliban government would help address terrorist threat and advance its geostrategic interests.
Moscow fears that without engagement with the Taliban government would hand advantage to its adversaries mainly the United States to undermine its interests.
“We of course will take decision keeping in view our interest. I can tell you there is no hurry,” said a Pakistani official when asked whether Islamabad would also recgonize the Taliban rule.
The source, however, did not rule out the possibility of Pakistan taking more pragmatic approach if other regional players follow the Russian footsteps.
At his weekly news briefing on Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan reacted cautiously to Moscow’s decision, saying it was a matter of between two sovereign states.
In any case, the source said, Pakistan has robust engagement with the Taliban ruled Kabul. “The de facto recognition is there,” the source said.
Pakistan, although has given no hinted about officially recognising the Taliban government, agreed to upgrade the diplomat ties. Last month after a trilateral meeting of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Chinese Foreign Ministers meeting in Beijing led Islamabad and Kabul to elevate their diplomatic ties. Both sides are in a process to fulfill the responsibilities before formally appointing Ambassadors in each other’s capitals.
China is thought to have played a key role in brokering the deal in the hope that greater engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan would address security concerns.
One of the reasons that Pakistan has not yet recognised the Taliban government is the unresolved issue of terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
The Afghan government recently took certain steps, which Pakistan thinks, could make the difference.
One major such move includes the Taliban government’s crackdown on Afghan nationals who were joining the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Taliban Amir also issued a fresh decree barring Afghans from so-called “Jihad” against Pakistan.
There were also reports that the Taliban government after recent terrorist attacks in North Waziristan started disarming groups living close to the border.
Sources said that it is in Taliban’s interest to address security concerns of Pakistan and other neighbouring countries. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the visit of Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Kabul are gradually improving with increased exchanges.
Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is expected to travel to Islamabad later this month. He was to visit Pakistan last month but the trip was delayed due to Iran-Israel war. During his visit, the two sides would review bilateral ties and decisions taken when Dar was in Kabul in April.
