Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister, has called for the United States to restore diplomatic and economic engagement with Afghanistan, including reopening its embassy in Kabul.
In an interview with The New York Times, published Friday, August 14, Muttaqi said that the United States could reopen its embassy and resume its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan.
According to the report, Muttaqi also urged the United States to invest in various sectors of Afghanistan’s economy, including mineral resources, dam construction, and road development projects that were developed over the past two decades with billions of dollars in funding from the United States and its allies.
The remarks come five years after the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, as the Taliban government seeks to expand its relations with other countries and reduce its international isolation.
Muttaqi said in the interview that the Taliban considers the “chapter of war” to be over and wants to establish relations with the United States based on mutual respect and begin a new phase of positive engagement.
Over the past year, the Taliban has intensified efforts to expand its foreign relations. These efforts include signing a defense cooperation agreement with Russia, visits by Taliban officials to Gulf countries, a meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and the signing of dozens of trade agreements with countries in Central Asia and India.
These efforts have intensified amid growing economic and security tensions with Pakistan. In response to security concerns, Pakistan imposed restrictions on trade crossings along its border with Afghanistan and, earlier this year, carried out airstrikes inside Afghan territory.
The Taliban foreign minister’s latest remarks come as the group’s government continues to face international restrictions and widespread lack of recognition. The Taliban is seeking to strengthen its position in regional and global affairs by expanding its political and economic ties with countries around the world.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
