Taliban warns US of repercussions if recognition not given for rule in Afghanistan

The Taliban has warned the US and other countries of 'global repercussions' if recognition is not given to their government now in charge of the troubled country. Freezing of Afghan funds and lack of recognition would not be good in the long run said Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid to media in Kabul on Sunday.

"Our message to America is, if unrecognition continues, Afghan problems continue, it is the problem of the region and could turn into a problem for the world," said Zabihullah Mujahid. Afghanistan is in the grips of a severe economic and humanitarian crisis which is partly driven by the freezing of Afghan economic assets by the World Trade Organisation and the International Monetary Fund. The Taliban had met with the US and other world powers in Qatar to discuss unfreezing the money in light of the desperate situation in the country.

Additionally, the US also froze billions of dollars in assets belonging to the Afghan Central Bank. US President Joe Biden and the other G20 leaders agreed during a virtual meeting to provide humanitarian aid directly to the Afghan people instead via the Taliban government.

Mujahid also said that the last time the US and Afghanistan went to war was because of a lack of diplomatic ties, citing the need for proper diplomatic channels to be established between the US and what the Taliban has now deemed to be the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The Taliban government has not yet been formally recognised since the fall of the US-backed government in September.