Russia's special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, on Tuesday said that Moscow would make a decision on recognizing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regardless of the opinion of the United States or any other country.

In an interview with "Channel One Russia” Kabulov stated that the first step toward recognition of the Islamic Emirate would the formation of an inclusive political government in Afghanistan.

"Such prospects do exist. The conditions were described by the Russian president [Vladimir Putin] and the foreign minister [Sergey Lavrov]," said Kabulov, the director of the Foreign Ministry’s Second Asian Department. "Inclusive ethnopolitical government should be the first step towards this. We make no secret of this and we say so outright to our Afghan partners. As soon as this happens, there will be the basis for a serious discussion. We will act regardless of what the United States and everybody else may think,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, at a joint press conference in Tehran with his Iranian counterpart, said that Islamabad was concerned about the security and stability in Afghanistan. He suggested that the interim government must take steps to be more inclusive and aggressive in the fight against terrorism.

"Mr. Kabulov's comments and the Russian president's comments before him indicate that the Russians are attempting to engage, strengthen, and deepen relations with the Taliban,” said former diplomat Noorullah Raghi.

The Islamic Emirate welcomed Kabulov's statement.

"We welcome Kabulov's remarks about his readiness to recognize the Afghan government. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as it has always emphasized, wants a formal interaction with the international community, particularly the Russian Federation, and unnecessary obstacles should not prevent Afghanistan and the international community from beginning their interaction,” said Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.

These statements were made as the Islamic Emirate is still not recognized by any countries. The process of recognizing the government was allegedly proceeding silently, according to Kabul.