Three years on, Taliban govt in Af notches up some diplomatic wins

THREE years into its rule of Afghanistan, the Taliban government has achieved some diplomatic wins even as it has consolidated power and enforced its strict version of Islamic law.

The Taliban rulers continue to operate without official recognition from any country - its restrictions on women a major sticking point.

But concern over Afghanistan's worsening humanitarian crisis, the threat of terrorism, and hard-nosed pragmatism have led to some international engagement.