Event

Recognition of the Taliban, 1997

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan’s government on 25 to 27 May 1997.

7 links, 3 backed by primary records

Connections 7

Pakistan recognized the Taliban on 25 May Scholarship & press 1
Government of Saudi Arabia recognized the Taliban on 26 May Scholarship & press 1
United Arab Emirates recognized the Taliban on 27 May Scholarship & press 1
United Arab Emirates one of only three governments to recognize the Taliban Scholarship & press 2
Taliban recognized by only these three governments Primary record 3
United States government did not recognize the Taliban; its diplomats were willing to “give the Taliban a chance” Primary record 3

Timeline 1 date

Proof 3 sources

Afghanistan: Crisis of Impunity: The Role of Pakistan, Russia, and Iran in Fueling the Civil War, Human Rights Watch, Jul 2001. Scholarship & press
Pakistan was quick to seize the opportunity to recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan, on May 25; Saudi Arabia followed on May 26 and the UAE on May 27.
Saudi Arabia Ends Ties with Taliban, PBS NewsHour, 25 Sep 2001. Scholarship & press
Prior to the September 11 attacks, only three world governments recognized the Taliban.
The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, 9-11-commission, 22 Jul 2004. Primary record
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates were the only countries that recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
U.S. diplomats did not favor the Taliban over the rival factions. Despite growing concerns, U.S. diplomats were willing at the time, as one official said, to “give the Taliban a chance.”

Page history 1 change