The United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary says that although the U.K. won't soon recognize the Taliban's government, `there is an important scope'' for dialogue with Afghanistan's new rulers.

In a joint press conference in Doha with his Qatari counterpart, Dominic Raab said he supported ``engagement'' with the Taliban to test the group's wide-ranging promises. He cited the Taliban's pledges to protect freedom of travel for Afghans and foreigners, to form an inclusive government and, significantly, to prevent international terrorist groups from using the war-scarred country as a base.

Raab said: `In all of these areas, we will judge them by what they do, not just by what they say.''

Diplomatic recognition would prove critical in allowing the Taliban to access development aid and loans from international financial institutions as the group confronts an economy in free fall.