The Czech Republic will not recognize the Taliban but will have to maintain contacts with them, Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek said on Sunday.
“We find ourselves in a situation where the Taliban are the new masters of Afghanistan. I am not happy about this, but we will have to accept the reality as it is,” Kulhanek told journalists before leaving for the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, adding that it will still be necessary to maintain some contacts with the movement.
“Speaking on behalf of the Czech Republic, I can say that we will not recognize the Taliban under any circumstances.”
The minister stressed the importance of a common EU approach toward the Taliban.
“In particular, we are ready to participate in tackling the issues of migration in the region because we definitely do not want illegal migrants from Afghanistan coming to Europe,” Kulhanek stated.
EU in ‘no rush’ to recognise the Taliban
The situation in Afghanistan has been dominating the international agenda, with key global and regional powers trying to find ways to ensure stability and security in the war-ravaged Central Asian nation.
Kulhanek’s comments come after the European Commission’s managing director for Asia and the Pacific, Gunnar Wiegand, said that the EU is neither in hurry to recognise the Taliban nor to establishing official relations with the group. Wiegand said that the European Union needs to communicate, influence and make use of the leverages with the Taliban.
Meanwhile, last week, the Taliban announced an all-male interim “Islamic Emirate”, naming some hardliners as part of Afghanistan’s new administration.
On 11 September, when the world marked the 20th anniversary of the deadly 9/11 attacks, the Taliban flag even waved over the Afghan presidential palace.
According to AP, the Taliban flag was raised Friday and could be seen waving over the presidential palace in Kabul on Saturday. The insurgents also painted their white backdrop flag on the wall of the US Embassy building.
