Afghanistan recognizes Kosovo's independence

Afghanistan on Monday recognized Kosovo's independence, a top government official said.

"We support the determination of the people and recognize Kosovo's independence," said Sultan Ahmad Baheen, a spokesman for Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry.

Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leadership announced on Sunday its independence from Serbia. On Monday, Kosovo's leaders sent letters to 192 countries seeking formal recognition of independence.

Afghanistan, where Islam is the official state religion, appeared to be the first country to formally recognize Kosovo _ a predominantly Muslim former Yugoslav province run by the United Nations since the end of the war with Serbia in 1999.