The Paradox in International Government Practices Regarding the Non-Recognition of the Taliban Government, with a Focus on Iran's Strategy

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor of the International Law Department of Qom University,Qom, Iran

2 Learned of religious Sciences and PhD student of public international law of Qom University, Qom, Iran

Abstract

The prevailing political turmoil and the fragile economic conditions compelling Afghans to desperation and migration serve as backdrop for this research. Anchored in the theory of democratic government legitimacy, this study employs a descriptive-analytical approach to address the perplexing paradox in international government practices concerning the non-recognition of the Taliban government within the realm of international law. Many countries maintain relations with the Taliban government; with active embassies in Kabul and diplomatic engagements with its officials. Some countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and Turkey as well as Turkmenistan have entrusted the Afghan embassy to the caretaker government of the Taliban. Yet,these nations officially refrain from granting recognition and insist that their interactions should not be construed as such..  A primary objective of this research is to elucidate the distinction between recognition and other international functions of governments, with a particular emphasis on the strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The central hypothesis posits that the international community views the legitimacy of the Taliban government with skepticism, deeming population, territory, and sovereignty as insufficient indicators of its legitimacy. The research findings underscore the pivotal  importunate of recognition for the Taliban government because, as without recognition, it remains excluded from the international community.. The existence and stand of governments in the international arena hinge on recognition, a principle applicable to the Taliban government as well. Recognition or non-recognition by another government is a unilateral and discretionary political action that does not affect the existence of a government. Instead, it carries political implications for the recognizing state. Therefore, recognition is a privilege rather than an inherent right, contingent on the intention of the recognizing state. It cannot be attained solely through adherence to international law, as the law concerns itself with the legal consequences of a political reality‒ the state. The framework and political context determine this right. The international community holds the contemporary standard of democratic government legitimacy, characterized by adherence to democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, and the non-establishment of government through the use of force, as the criterion for recognition. The Taliban government must align with these principles to secure international recognition.. Other governments' actions, guided by various considerations, do not constitute recognition, and does not entail its legal implications, and do not grant the Taliban government membership in the international community. Therefore, adherence to the principles of democratic government legitimacy appears as the sole viable path to rescue both the Taliban government and the Afghan people from their current predicament.

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References

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  • Receive Date: 31 December 2022
  • Revise Date: 20 February 2023
  • Accept Date: 20 March 2023

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