Taliban's prime minister urged Muslim countries to be the first to recognize the Afghan government, which came into power following the end of the US invasion in August.

"I call on Muslim countries to take the lead and recognize us officially. Then I hope we will be able to develop quickly," Mohammad Hassan Akhund told a conference in Kabul to address the country's massive economic crisis. 

Afghanistan has been in financial chaos as the US troops heavily damaged the country's economic and political infrastructure following its two-decade-long invasion before hastily withdrawing in August of last year, leaving the country in a difficult state.

"We do not want anyone's help. We don't want it for the officials," Akhund said, referring to recognition of the government. "We want it for our public," Akhund said, adding that the Taliban had fulfilled all necessary conditions by restoring peace and security.

A worsening crisis

The United Nations revealed last week said on Tuesday that $5 billion in aid for Afghanistan is needed by 2022 to avert a humanitarian disaster and give the war-torn country a future after 40 years of suffering.

Washington has frozen billions of dollars in the country's assets, and aid supplies have been severely hampered. Afghanistan also suffered its worst drought in decades in 2021, leading to unemployment skyrocketing and the current inflation.

In 2022, an estimated 4.7 million people will be suffering from acute malnutrition, with 1.1 million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

Taliban reassures Ahmad Masoud about his return

The Foreign Minister of the Taliban government, Amir Khan Muttaqi, announced earlier that he met in Tehran with Ahmad Masoud, leader of the opposition movement, and Ismail Khan, a former Afghan Minister.

In a statement reported by the Afghan state television, Muttaqi said that anyone can come to Afghanistan and live without fears.

The statement comes at a time when Muttaqi led a delegation from the Taliban movement to Iran on Saturday and Sunday in his first visit to Tehran.

Muttaqi confirmed that he met with Ismail Khan and Ahmad Masoud and "assured all of them that they can come back to live freely and safely in Afghanistan."

"We [the Taliban] don’t intend to cause any security or other problems for anyone,” he added.

The Taliban government's Foreign Minister visited Tehran to discuss the matter of Afghan refugees and the growing economic crisis in Afghanistan.