The former UK defense chief David Richards re-cently suggested that the West recognize the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan.
Interviewing with the BBC, General Sir David Richards said it is time to accept that the war has been lost in Afghanistan and it is necessary for the world to work with the new leadership of Afghani-stan to assist the people as they are facing a crisis.
“I think the West is going to end up recognizing the Taliban government. If that’s the case, then we bet-ter get on with it sooner rather than later,” said David Richards.
He added: “There’s a great phrase: be magnanimous in victory. I think this is the occasion for us to be magnanimous in defeat.”
These remarks come as no country has officially recognized the Islamic Emirate as a government since it came to power in August.
“The Americans were strategically defeated in Af-ghanistan, they have to accept this defeat, because the government that was the result of the 20-year presence of NATO and the US collapsed in front of America’s eyes,” said Gen Samar Sadat, a military expert.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate believes that inter-national engagement with Afghanistan will benefit both Afghanistan and world countries. “This is our request: that all countries engage and help the Af-ghan people and recognize the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman of the Islamic Emirate.
Forming an inclusive government, fighting insur-gency and respecting human rights, especially the rights of women and girls, have been set as precon-ditions for recognizing new rulers in Afghanistan by Western countries.
“The Taliban needs internal legitimacy for legiti-macy, and some laws and principles need to be adopted from which a government can be built,” said Shukria Barakzai, former MP.
Iranian media reported that Iran’s foreign minister Amir-Abdollahian met with his Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto in Tehran and discussed the issue of an inclusive government in Afghanistan. —TOLO
