Pakistan says no rush to recognize Taliban goverment

New York, Sept. 21 (BNA): Pakistan’s foreign minister said the new Taliban rulers in Afghanistan must understand that if they want to recognize and help rebuild the war-torn country, “they have to be more sensitive and more receptive to international opinion and standards.”

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Monday evening that countries are watching to see how things develop in Afghanistan before even considering recognizing it. He says, “I don’t think anyone is in a hurry to identify at this point,” the Associated Press reports.

The Pakistani minister said that his country’s goal is peace and stability in Afghanistan, and to achieve this, “we propose to the Afghans that they have an inclusive government.” He says their initial statements suggest they don’t hate the idea, so “let’s see.”

He expressed the hope that the Taliban would fulfill their promise to “allow girls and women to go to school, college and university.”

Qureshi strongly urged the United States and other countries that froze funds from the previous Afghan government to release it because “this Afghan money should be spent on the Afghan people”.

RAE