ROME, 27 September 2021, (TON): Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Luigi Di Maio has said “the Taliban government in Afghanistan could not be recognised but said Afghans should start receiving the financial support that was frozen after the armed group took power last month.”

He urged foreign governments to prevent a financial collapse there that would result in a massive flow of migrants.

Di Maio told state-owned television “recognition of the Taliban government is impossible since there are 17 terrorists among the ministers, and the human rights of women and girls are continuously violated.”

Di Maio, who chaired a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in New York last week, said “clearly, we must prevent Afghanistan from implosion and from an uncontrolled flow of migration that could destabilise neighbouring countries.”

“There are ways to guarantee financial support without giving money to the Taliban. We have also agreed that a part of humanitarian aid must always go to the protection of women and girls.”

Italy holds the annual, rotating presidency of the G20 and is looking to host a special summit on Afghanistan.

Di Maio added “the G20 countries, together with Afghanistan’s neighbours, are committed to fight against terrorism, and to work for the protection of human rights.”