Mullah Baradar to U.S. Delegation: Replace Confrontation With Engagement

DID Press: Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Taliban’s caretaker government, in a meeting with a U.S. delegation led by Adam Boehler and joined by Zalmay Khalilzad, emphasized that U.S. sanctions have hindered Afghanistan’s economic growth and urged Washington to replace confrontation with constructive engagement and investment in the country.

Adam Boehler, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, arrived in Kabul on Saturday at the head of a delegation that included Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. envoy for peace in Afghanistan. After meeting Amir Khan Muttaqi, Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister, the delegation held talks with Baradar.

Baradar described economic sanctions as the main obstacle to Afghanistan’s development and called on the United States to shift from a policy of confrontation to one of investment and reconstruction. He claimed that the Taliban government had curbed administrative corruption, reduced narcotics cultivation and trafficking, lowered unemployment, stabilized Afghanistan currency, boosted exports and domestic production, and initiated major economic projects.

The Deputy Prime Minister also pointed to investment opportunities in sectors such as mining, agriculture, transportation, telecommunications, and technology, noting that simplified and facilitative regulations had been drafted to attract foreign investors. He stressed that the Taliban had pursued a “balanced, economy-focused foreign policy” and established positive relations with a number of countries.

For their part, U.S. delegation expressed satisfaction with their visit to Kabul, saying Doha Agreement had been implemented successfully, and signaled Washington’s readiness to expand engagement with the Taliban authorities. This was the second visit of a U.S. delegation to Kabul since the Taliban’s return to power; the first took place in April and focused on the release of American detainees.

Nevertheless, United States has accused the Taliban of “hostage diplomacy” and continues to voice concern over the detention of U.S. citizens in Afghanistan. Reports indicate that at least one American, identified as Mahmood Shah Habibi, remains in Taliban custody, though the group has not officially acknowledged his arrest.