Afghan officials have increased calls for the international community to recognize the Taliban government as Pakistan prepares to host a special session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban are still grappling with the issue of international recognition after capturing Kabul. When it comes to foreign investment, expertise, and help, whether or not the international world recognizes the hard-line movement as a legitimate government will make a tremendous difference.

Importantly, the basic goal of an upcoming conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Afghanistan, according to Pakistan, is to provide a timely humanitarian response to support the people of the neighboring nation, not to recognize the Taliban administration in Kabul.

Earlier, when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 only three governments including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates recognized their self-proclaimed Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. But first and foremost, they have to put together an effective government with a semblance of the promised inclusiveness and reconciliation. The Taliban government in Afghanistan has yet to be publicly recognized by any country nearly three months after seizing power and more than two months after announcing an interim government. 

Notably, the delegations from the EU and the UN Security Council's P5 group will attend the OIC meeting. Pakistan is attempting to bring international attention to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. There are growing fears that Afghanistan would face a humanitarian calamity as a result of food and medicine shortages, as well as a crumbling economy.

Moreover, major humanitarian cri­sis is looming in Afghan­i­s­tan and many aid agencies have pulled out after the recent takeover of Kabul by the Taliban. An economic turmoil is also inevitable due to the suspension of aid by major donors and the halting of payments by the World Bank and Interna­tional Mon­e­tary Fund. This, if it happens, can exacerbate the feared humanitarian crisis. 

Furthermore, the United Nations has called for international assistance, and financial support has already been provided. Before the Taliban took over, Afghanistan was reliant on international aid for 75% of its public budget. To strengthen its economy and provide relief to its people, it urgently requires more development and financial help than just food and other humanitarian aid. Millions of people's well-being—and even lives—will be directly affected by recognition decisions.

Significantly, the OIC summit in Pakistan provides an essential platform for these challenging concerns to be raised and solutions sought. The OIC meeting is important to take a comprehensive look at Afghanistan’s situation and figure out how to bridge the gap between what the international community expects and demands from the Taliban and what the Taliban are willing and capable of delivering.

Mainly, the Western bloc has major concerns with the new Afghan government, they want assurance for fundamental rights, including women's rights, and the new afghan administration will not allow Afghanistan to become a hotbed for international terrorist movements. Among other concerns of the world regarding the Taliban rule, the provision of a safe and secure environment for humanitarian organizations in Afghanistan is a key demand.  

However, the Taliban wants to be recognized by the world, since seizing power in Kabul. They also have reaffirmed their desire for diplomatic relations with all countries of the world. The Taliban has promised women’s rights, media freedom, and amnesty for government officials after taking charge of the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Since their takeover, the Taliban leaders were met by officials from Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asian countries. Pakistan has been at the forefront of encouraging closer ties with the Taliban, claiming that if Afghanistan becomes unstable, Pakistan will bear the brunt of the consequences.

Moreover, the Taliban recognition would ease cross-border trade and new infrastructure investments, improve border security cooperation, and allow greater opportunities to collaborate with the Taliban to reduce the possibility of unintended consequences. Refugee flows, cross-border terrorism, and drug trafficking are among them.

While regional players may believe that recognizing the Taliban government will enable them to better collaborate with the Taliban in order to decrease security threats, they will likely wait until they have guarantees about the larger security situation.

The OIC members, as well as the EU and P5 delegations, are hoping to be able to come up with steps that will lessen the likelihood of a disaster in Afghanistan and launch a serious evaluation of the recognition issue. At the same time, members of the OIC should put pressure on the Taliban government to be more flexible and responsive to international demands. Significantly, if the Taliban want to gain the recognition of the global community, they have to earn the world’s trust, while foreign states must also act following ground realities and deal with the Taliban Government for the stability of Afghanistan.