Taliban "Legitimacy Will Have To Be Earned", Says US Secretary Of State

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the international community expected the Taliban to uphold human rights.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Wednesday that the Taliban would have to earn legitimacy from the world, after talks with allies on how to present a united front to the hardline new government in Afghanistan. "The Taliban seek international legitimacy. Any legitimacy -- any support -- will have to be earned," Blinken told reporters at the US air base in Ramstein, Germany, after leading a 20-nation ministerial meeting on the Afghan crisis. Standing alongside him, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the international community expected the Taliban to uphold human rights, including those of women, grant access to humanitarian aid and allow those wishing to leave the country to do so. Maas said he believed Wednesday's talks were "the starting point for international coordination" on how to deal with the Taliban.