塔利班自2021年掌权以来，正积极推进外交努力以打破国际孤立，越来越多国家与其加强接触。[1]俄罗斯在一年多前率先承认塔利班政府，并于上月签署军事合作协议。[1]印度、卡塔尔、中国、伊朗及中亚国家等区域大国近期也纷纷恢复或加强与阿富汗的外交关系。[1]欧盟也在进行接触，曾于6月在布鲁塞尔与塔利班官员就遣返失败的寻求庇护者进行谈判。[1]英国则声称对塔利班官员采取"有限且务实"的接触政策。[1]
塔利班发言人表示"伊斯兰酋长国寻求与所有国家的关系"。[1]然而，这一扩大的外交接触面临严重的人权问题。联合国描述塔利班制定了禁止妇女上大学和大多数工作的法令，否认少女教育并实施严格着装规范。[1]尽管存在这些系统性侵犯人权的行为，多国仍在单独推进与塔利班的接触。[1]人权组织对此表示担忧，认为各国分别行动可能削弱国际社会对人权改革的一致要求。[1]印度安全理事团特使哈里什·帕瓦塔尼更是提议重新考虑针对塔利班成员的联合国制裁，称"过去五年阿富汗政治现实已改变"。[1]此外，在德国和至少其他四个西欧首都，关键领事馆现已由塔利班控制。[1]
The Taliban-controlled Afghan government is intensifying diplomatic efforts to break its international isolation, with regional powers including India, Qatar, China, Iran, and Central Asian nations recently strengthening ties or restoring relations with Kabul.[1] Despite the Taliban's systematic human rights abuses and restrictions on women's education and employment, an expanding array of countries—including the European Union—are establishing contact with the regime.[1]
The Taliban took power in 2021 and has implemented sweeping restrictions affecting Afghan women and girls.[1] According to United Nations descriptions, the Taliban has enacted decrees prohibiting women from attending university and working in most sectors, while denying girls' education and enforcing strict dress codes.[1] Russia recognized the Taliban government over a year ago and signed a military cooperation agreement last month.[1]
International responses to increased engagement vary. India's UN Security Council envoy Harish Pawatan has proposed reconsidering UN sanctions against Taliban members, arguing that "Afghanistan's political reality has changed over the past five years."[1] The European Union conducted negotiations with Taliban officials in Brussels in June regarding the repatriation of unsuccessful asylum seekers.[1] Britain has characterized its approach to Taliban officials as adopting "limited and pragmatic" engagement.[1] Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated that "the Islamic Emirate seeks relations with all countries."[1]
Human rights organizations express alarm that bilateral contacts between individual nations and the Taliban may undermine unified international pressure for human rights reforms.[1] The Taliban now controls key consulates in Germany and at least four other Western European capitals.[1]