Do the Persian Gulf countries recognize the Taliban?
Only two countries on the Persian Gulf recognized the Taliban rule, which lasted from 1996 to late 2001 as the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.”
Saudi Arabia and the UAE, along with Pakistan, were the only countries to recognize the Taliban. Now that the Taliban have returned to full power in Afghanistan, the question is whether the two Arab states, along with other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, will recognize the new version of the Taliban as a legitimate government or isolate it. Will try.
Regional observers say GCC countries are concerned about the current situation in Afghanistan. Extensive civil war is likely to be a serious threat to Gulf regimes, given the possibility that the conflict could spread to Gulf countries despite their distance from Afghanistan being about 1,250 miles, and that ISIL or al-Qaeda may be easy ways to use this. Find riots and strike the stability of these countries.
Analysts stressed that one of the key issues for the Gulf states is to ensure that the Taliban victory is not a source of inspiration for ISIS thinking among their nations. Analysts see this as a common issue among the Gulf states, despite the fact that terrorist threats will vary from place to place.
In addition, due to the difficult economic period in the Persian Gulf, the entry of Afghans may increase the pressure on the current budget and create social problems, while the regimes of the Persian Gulf countries ask their citizens to take a series of measures. Prepare austerity and new taxes, it is not clear how much support Afghans seeking refuge in the Persian Gulf will receive.
After the Taliban regained control of Kabul on 15 August, the Gulf states have been cautious, none of them have yet recognized the new Taliban regime, and it is unlikely that they will do so now. Take action.
Gulf experts believe that the Gulf states are seeking to accept the Taliban informally, and that if the international community, and especially Europe and the United States, seek to establish relations with the Taliban, then the Gulf states will do the same. .
Of the six GCC countries, the UAE may present itself as the country most opposed to the Taliban, despite recognizing the Taliban as a legitimate government in the 1990s. Political analysts say that the ideological conflict that the UAE has waged against political Islam means that they will take a hard line against the Taliban.
Analysts added that Saudi Arabia may take a softer stance, despite bin Salman trying to promote a new version of what he calls “moderate Islam”. According to some revelations, some Saudi intelligence agents may be secretly trying to contact the Taliban. However, the way Saudi Arabia works with the Taliban may pose serious risks that Riyadh will refuse to accept. Observers in the region believe that there are doubts about the success of this strategy, given the close ties between the Taliban and Iran in recent years.
Although Qatar had ties to the Taliban before the 9/11 attacks; But Doha did not officially recognize the “Islamic Emirate”. And Qatari officials, like their counterparts in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, are likely to refuse to recognize the new Taliban immediately. Political analysts believe that if the United States wants to achieve anything in Afghanistan, it needs an intermediary, and Qatar is the only intermediary at the moment.
Oman, on the other hand, silently followed the developments in Afghanistan this month, despite Ahmad bin Hamad al-Khalili, the Mufti of Oman, congratulating the Taliban on returning to power.
Bahrain and Kuwait have so far refused to comment officially on Taliban control.
Finally, there is another variable that is still unknown, and that is the level of power of the opposition forces of the Taliban to weaken the power of the new rulers of Kabul. Especially in light of the recent suicide bombings near Kabul airport, which were carried out by ISIS, in addition to differences between the National Resistance Front in Panjshir and the Taliban over the future of government in Afghanistan.
