Blinken says Taliban must earn legitimacy after new government fails inclusivity test

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a meeting with his German counterpart at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, as they will hold a virtual 20-nation ministerial meeting on the crisis, September, 8, 2021. Olivier Douliery/Pool via REUTERS

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday said a provisional Afghan cabinet was not the inclusive government the Taliban had promised and that the Islamist group needs to earn the international legitimacy and support it seeks.

Blinken, visiting a U.S. air base in Germany that has been a transit point for evacuees from Afghanistan, also called on the Taliban to allow charter flights carrying Americans and at-risk Afghans to depart the country.