The Taliban: From Past to Present and the Question of Whether It Can be Recognized as Government Under International Law

Abstract

In international law, there is a difference between the recognition of states and governments. Governments established under a state’s constitution do not need to be recognized by other states. However, governments that came to power in an unconstitutional and illegal process would have to be recognized by other states. Although Afghanistan remains a state, it faces the question of whether the entities that took over the administration in violation of the Afghan constitution can be recognized as a legitimate government by other states. Only Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia recognized the Taliban who seized power illegally between 1996 and 2001, as an established government. After the United States intervened and launched an operation in Afghanistan, blaming Taliban for being a sanctuary for Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda members who allegedly perpetrated the twin-tower attack, the Taliban gave up the administration and fled to the mountains. Despite the continued presence of the United States and its allies in Afghanistan for almost two decades, the Taliban grew stronger. The Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, another name for Taliban, was signed in Doha on February 29, 2020, with the United States of America. After the bilateral agreement, on November 17, 2020, the United States announced that it would withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. Hence, President Joe Biden of the United States announced the country’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan completely on April 14, 2020. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was conquered on August 15, 2021, after the Taliban seized Kabul without conflict. With the fall of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Taliban gained de facto control of the country. In this study, information will be given about the Taliban from past to present. Then, the types of recognition and the differences between the recognition of states and the recognition of governments in terms of international law will be explained. Lastly, the issue of whether the Taliban can be recognized as a government will be examined.

Keywords

• recognition of states
• recognition of governments
• effective control
• de jure recognition
• de facto recognition
• express recognition
• implied recognition
• Estrada Doctrine
• Legitimacy Doctrine
• Tobar Doctrine
• Stimson Doctrine
• recognition for geostrategic benefits
• unconstitutional change of regime
• Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan

Milletlerarası Hukuk Açısından Dünden Bugüne Taliban ve Taliban’ın Hükümet Olarak Tanınıp Tanınmayacağı Meselesi

Abstract

Milletlerarası hukukta devletin tanınması ile hükümetin tanınması birbirinden farklı konulardır. Bir devletin anayasasına uygun olarak kurulan hükümetin diğer devletler tarafından tanınmasına gerek yoktur. Ancak olağandışı yollarla yani anayasaya ve hukuka aykırı olarak iktidara gelen hükümetin diğer devletler tarafından tanınması gerekmektedir. Afganistan devlet olarak varlığını korumakla beraber Afganistan anayasasına aykırı şekilde yönetimi ele geçiren oluşumların diğer devletlerce hükümet olarak tanınıp tanınmayacağı sorunuyla karşı karşıyadır. 1996-2001 yılları arasında yasadışı yollarla yönetimi ele geçiren Taliban’ı sadece Pakistan, Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri ve Suudi Arabistan hükümet olarak tanımıştı. ABD’nin, ikiz kuleler saldırısından sorumlu tuttuğu Usame bin Ladin ve El-Kaide üyelerine karşı başlattığı operasyonu bahane ederek Afganistan’a girmesi üzerine, Taliban yönetimi terk etmiş ve dağlara kaçmak zorunda kalmıştı. ABD ve müttefiklerinin Afganistan’daki varlığı yirmi yıl devam etmesine rağmen Taliban yeniden güçlenmiştir. 29 Şubat 2020 tarihinde Doha’da Amerika Birleşik Devletleri ile Taliban Olarak Bilinen Afganistan İslam Emirliği Arasında Afganistan’a Barış Getiren Anlaşma imzalanmıştır. ABD ile Taliban arasında yapılan iki taraflı antlaşmanın ardından 17 Kasım 2020 tarihinde ABD, Afganistan’dan çekileceğini açıklamıştır. 14 Nisan 2021 tarihinde ABD Başkanı Biden, Afganistan’dan tamamen çekilme kararı almıştır. Taliban’ın çatışmasız şekilde Kabil’i ele geçirmesiyle beraber, 15 Ağustos 2021 tarihinde Afganistan İslam Cumhuriyeti Hükümeti düşmüştür. Afganistan İslam Cumhuriyeti Hükümeti’nin düşmesiyle beraber fiili yönetim Taliban’ın eline geçmiştir. Çalışmamızda öncelikle dünden bugüne Taliban hakkında bilgi verilecektir. Ardından milletlerarası hukuk açısından tanıma türleri ve devletlerin tanınması ile hükümetlerin tanınması arasındaki farklar üzerinde durulacaktır. Daha sonra Taliban’ın hükümet olarak tanınıp tanınmayacağı meselesi irdelenecektir.

Keywords

• Taliban
• devletlerin tanınması
• hükümetlerin tanınması
• etkin kontrol
• de jure tanıma
• de facto tanıma
• açık tanıma
• zımni tanıma
• Estrada Doktrini
• Meşruiyet Doktrini
• Tobar Doktrini
• Stimson Doktrini
• Jeostratejik tanıma
• anayasal olmayan rejim değişiklikleri
• Afganistan’a Barış Getirme Anlaşması

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