Religious scholars in Afghanistan have called on the international community to recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan's government and lift sanctions on Afghanistan, according to a statement issued on the final day of the grand assembly of religious scholars and elders in the country's capital Kabul.

"We ask regional and international countries, especially Islamic countries … to recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ... release all sanctions, unfreeze (central bank) funds and support in development of Afghanistan," the gathering's participants said in a statement.

Participants at the meeting also called on the government to promote justice, religion and modern education, the health and agricultural industries, as well as the the rights of minorities, children and women in the light of Islamic law.

The Taliban's supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada attended the three-day gathering of more than 4,000 men on Friday, and delivered a speech in which he congratulated the participants on the Taliban's victory and underlined the country's independence.