Pakistan offered a measured response on Friday to Russia’s decision to formally recognize the Taliban administration in Afghanistan, calling the development a matter between two sovereign nations while stopping short of indicating any plans to follow suit.
“We have seen the news about Russian recognition of the government in Kabul,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan during a weekly press briefing. “Russia is an important country in the region. It has legitimate security interests in this part of the world and is friends with all countries in the region.”
Khan emphasized that Pakistan maintains “very warm and cordial relations” with Moscow and that both countries are working to strengthen ties. However, he did not comment on whether Islamabad might consider a similar move.
“Russia-Afghanistan relations are a matter between two sovereign states,” he said. “We have taken note of Russian recognition.”
In contrast, China welcomed Moscow’s move. While Beijing has not formally recognized the Taliban, it became the first country to send a full-time ambassador to Kabul in March 2023 and accepted a Taliban-appointed envoy in Beijing — signaling a deepening, if unofficial, relationship.
Diplomatic sources said other regional nations may also consider formal recognition in the future, noting that countries including the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan are currently in the process of appointing full-time ambassadors to Kabul.
Still, Pakistan’s position remains ambiguous. While it has maintained diplomatic ties with the Taliban since their return to power in 2021, relations have been strained in recent months over the Taliban’s failure to curb cross-border attacks by militant groups operating from Afghanistan’s territory.
