KABUL, Afghanistan — By plane, motorbike, camper van and even on bicycles, tourists are beginning to discover Afghanistan, with solo travelers and tour groups gradually venturing into a country that until recently was wracked by war.

July 4 (UPI) -- Russia has become the first country to formally recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

A former senior Taliban official told CBS News that while the move was welcome, "Russia and China can't financially support us the way the Americans did."