Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, says he does not expect the nearly 50 countries that were involved in Afghanistan during the past two decades of conflict to now “shower the Taliban government with praise.” He emphasized that Afghan embassies remain operational in all countries except one in the region, and that if any country chooses not to engage with the Taliban, that is a decision for that country to make.
Muttaqi made these remarks while addressing a religious seminary in Kabul. He told students that they should stay informed about global developments and prepare themselves for future challenges so that they can respond effectively when necessary.
The Taliban foreign minister described his government’s foreign policy as successful, stating that despite having been at war with many countries over the past twenty years, they have nevertheless managed to maintain diplomatic relations with a large number of them. According to him, only one country in the region remains where Afghanistan does not have an embassy.
Although Muttaqi did not name the country, Tajikistan is widely regarded as the only regional state where Afghanistan’s embassy is still administered by representatives of the former republican government. Tajikistan has so far taken a cautious approach toward expanding relations with the Taliban and continues to express concerns regarding border security.
Muttaqi added that most Afghan embassies and consulates in neighboring and regional countries remain active, while a number of diplomatic missions in Western countries also continue to operate.
Meanwhile, the limited presence of Taliban representatives in several European countries largely accepted for the purpose of handling identity verification and administrative matters for Afghan migrants has drawn considerable criticism. Critics argue that allowing such representatives to operate amounts to an effort to confer legitimacy on the Taliban.
In this context, Raquel García Hermida-van der Walle, Chair of the Delegation for Relations with Afghanistan in the European Parliament, has strongly opposed any potential invitation of Taliban representatives to Brussels. She has described the Taliban’s policies toward women as “gender apartheid” and a “crime against humanity.”
Writer:Saeed Sameer
