UK’s former chief of defence David Richards on Tuesday said that the West will recognise the Taliban sooner or later and urged governments to be “magnanimous in defeat.”
“I THINK THE WEST IS GOING TO END UP RECOGNIsING THE TALIBAN GOVERNMENT. IF THAT’S THE CASE, THEN WE’D BETTER GET ON WITH IT QUICKER, SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THERE’S A GREAT PHRASE TO BE MAGNANIMOUS IN VICTORY. I THINK THIS IS AN OCCASION FOR US TO BE MAGNANIMOUS IN DEFEAT,” SAID RICHARDS TO A UK-BASED MEDIA, REPORTED THE KHAAMA PRESS.
Richards cautioned that it was time for the US to admit that the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan has been lost and now the United States must start working with the new leadership for the sake of the Afghan people.
The request for the Taliban to be recognised comes while no country has yet to do so, and the country is in the midst of its greatest humanitarian crisis in decades, with half of the population in need of help and another eight million on the verge of starvation.
Taliban, who are anxious for world recognition, have been reminded time and time again that respect for women and human rights, the establishment of an inclusive government, and not allowing Afghanistan to become a terrorist safe haven are all preconditions for international recognition.
