Taliban appreciate Pakistan, other countries for sending aid to Afghanistan

He reiterated that the new govt in Afghanistan wanted to forge good ties with all the countries.

KABUL (Dunya News) – Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Molvi Amir Khan Muttaqi said on Tuesday thanked Pakistan, Qatar, China and the United Arab Emirates for sending humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

Addressing a press conference in Kabul on Tuesday, he said, "We have received aid from Qatar, Pakistan and Uzbekistan and appreciate all these countries."

He said some countries have made aid conditional on their demands, adding that we want good relations with all countries but we will not come under pressure from any country.

The interim Afghan FM also appealed to the international community to assist the newly formed government of the Emirate in different sectors through financial aid and technical support.

Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Molvi Amir Khan Muttaqi Tuesday urged the Afghan diplomatic staff and officials that had served under former regime, to return back and resume their work.

Addressing a presser here, the minister said that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan would have no objection to their performing of duties.

Molvi Muttaqi assured that all the officials employed by the former governments, including those in the foreign ministry should come and resume their duties.

“We call upon all the diplomatic staff deputed at the Afghan diplomatic missions and embassies abroad to resume their functions and duties as usual. They are our representatives, they should continue as usual and we would have no objections over them,” he emphasised.

The appeal comes in the wake of Taliban’s efforts to address and overcome all the issues in the functioning of the newly interim set up.

Responding to a query, the foreign minister further maintained that such principle applied to all those former employees of the ex-governments and they urged them to report and continue functioning as usual.

About ties with the world community, the foreign minister said that new interim set up of the Islamic Emirate would have no problem in dealing with any country.

However, he made it clear that they could not allow any threats of slapping embargoes on Afghanistan and expressed willingness to hold talks with all the countries in a friendly manner.

He reiterated that the new government in Afghanistan wanted to forge good ties with all the countries.

To a question regarding recognition of the Taliban government, Muttaqi said that they had not yet seen any country officially recognizing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

He said that Taliban government had held several meetings with the representatives and officials of the neighbouring countries.

These countries had expressed certain concerns and also approached them with some suggestions, he said, adding that Taliban government was addressing them.

Further elaborating his viewpoint, the foreign minister said each and every country has its own foreign policy, if they are willing to recognize the Islamic Emirate, they would be welcomed.

The Afghan minister further said that Taliban had been in total control of their homeland, and dismissed any concerns over conflict within the country, saying that ‘it is a good sign for the whole world’.

"The Islamic Emirate will try its best to deliver this aid to the needy people in a completely transparent manner," Muttaqi said.

He also asked Washington to show appreciation for the Taliban allowing the US to complete a troop withdrawal and evacuation of more than 120,000 people last month.

"America is a big country, they need to have a big heart," he said.