KABUL: Afghanistan's supreme leader called again on Friday for the international community to recognise the Taliban government, saying the world had become a "small village" and proper diplomatic relations would help solve the country's problems.
No nation has formally recognised the regime installed by the Taliban after they seized power in August and reintroduced the hardline rule that is increasingly excluding women from public life.
In a written message ahead of the Eid al Fitr holiday, supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada did not mention international sticking points -- including reopening secondary schools for girls.
Instead, he said recognition should come first "so that we may address our problems formally and within diplomatic norms and principles".
"Undoubtedly, the world has transformed into a small village," said Akhundzada, who has not been seen in public for years and lives in Kandahar, the Taliban's spiritual heartland.
"Afghanistan has its role in world peace and stability. According to this need, the world should recognise the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan."
His Eid message comes as the country has been rocked by a series of bomb blasts -- some claimed by the IS group and targeting the minority Hazara community.
Akhundzada made no mention of insecurity, but said the country had been able to build "a strong Islamic and national army", as well as "a strong intelligence organisation".
Many in the international community want humanitarian aid and recognition to be linked to the restoration of women's rights.
Tens of thousands of women lost their government jobs after the Taliban takeover, and they have also been barred from leaving the country -- or even travelling between cities -- unless accompanied by a male relative.
DEADLOCK IN TALKS
Meanwhile, negotiations between the Taliban and a Qatar-Turkey consortium for operating Afghanistan's five airports, including in the capital, have hit a deadlock after the hardliners insisted their fighters will guard the facilities, officials said.
Kabul's only airport was trashed in August when tens of thousands of people rushed to evacuate on any available flight as the United States wrapped up its withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.
While the facility is open, with some domestic and international flights operating, it still needs a significant upgrade for major foreign airlines to resume full service.
This week Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held two lengthy meetings with Qatar's Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman al Thani in Doha in a bid to reach a deal, officials from the two sides said.
But the talks, which also include rebuilding airports in Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif and Khost, have hit a deadlock.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
