China is the only United Nations member state so far that has granted de jure recognition to the Taliban regime which rose to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. China allowed Kabul to open its embassy in Beijing by formally asking the Taliban ambassador to submit his credentials to the Chinese president. Earlier, some UN member states, including Pakistan and Russia, had granted de facto recognition to the Taliban regime as conditions — like the formation of an inclusive government in Kabul and removing reservations about rights to the women pertaining to their education and work — remains pending.

On several occasions, the UN has taken a strong position against human rights violations committed under the Taliban regime particularly against women. The US — under whose initiative Doha Accord was signed on February 29, 2020 with the Taliban — had focused on military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the formation of an inclusive government in that country. What the world has rather seen under the Taliban rule is an exclusive government with no representation from the opposition groups and other stakeholders. Taliban imposed an authoritarian mode of governance in which democracy and political pluralism are not seen. Taliban regime is not bothered to address criticism from various sides that during its rule Afghanistan is again becoming a hub of terrorism where the nexus between TTP, Al-Qaeda and other jihadi groups is a stark reality.

With the interim Taliban government failing to implement major clauses of Doha Accord, the UN has declined its representation and a majority of its members have refused to grant legitimacy to the........

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