White House Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby reiterated the United States' unwavering stance on the Taliban administration during a recent press briefing. Kirby emphasized that the Taliban had failed to fulfill its commitments and had strayed further from international legitimacy over time.
During the White House briefing, Kirby affirmed that America's policies toward the de facto Taliban administration remained unchanged. He made these remarks in response to a reporter's question, emphasizing that Washington had no intention of officially recognizing the Taliban regime.
Kirby underscored the United States' continued oversight of all terrorist groups in Afghanistan and noted that the presence of al-Qaeda had significantly weakened and was unlikely to return to Afghanistan.
Regarding the Taliban's governance and treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan, Kirby stated that the administration had not fulfilled its promises. Therefore, the United States had no plans to recognize the de facto administration officially.
It's worth noting that no country had officially recognized the current interim government two years after it returned to power. The Taliban, however, accused the United States of seeking excuses to withhold recognition, while asserting their commitment to meeting their obligations.
Meanwhile, in response to the Taliban's resurgence, the international community imposed sanctions, freezing Afghanistan's assets and exacerbating a dire humanitarian crisis. The international community consistently called on the interim administration to lift all restrictions, including those on women's rights to education and employment, but the Taliban continued to enforce oppressive policies, particularly on women's participation in society.