Russia has become the first country in the world to formally recognize Afghanistan's Taliban government. This improves the radical group's standing on the world stage, and puts pressure on the West to follow suit.

Days after Russia officially recognised the Taliban government in Afghanistan, speculations are rife over whether Pakistan will follow suit. While Pakistani officials have maintained that they are in "no hurry" to extend formal recognition, Moscow’s move has once again pushed the question to the forefront.

Afghanistan’s isolation on the international stage, largely because of the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls, has left much of its 41 million people mired in poverty. As it struggles to attract foreign investment, the lucrative potential of tourism is far from lost on the government.