Mujahid Urges West to Change Wartime Policies Toward Afghanistan

DID Press: Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban government, has called on Western countries that were involved in the war in Afghanistan to change their wartime policies and expand diplomatic engagement with Kabul, saying Afghanistan seeks balanced relations with all countries based on its national interests.

Mujahid told TOLOnews that countries involved in the Afghan war should move away from policies adopted during the conflict and broaden their diplomatic relations with Kabul. He said the Taliban government wants good relations with all countries, including European nations, while safeguarding Afghanistan’s interests.

“We want the countries that were involved in the war in Afghanistan to change their wartime policies and make progress in their diplomatic engagement with us,” Mujahid said, according to TOLOnews.

He said the Taliban’s foreign-policy approach is focused on maintaining balanced relations and advancing Afghanistan’s interests. His remarks come as Taliban representatives have increased diplomatic engagement with a number of countries and continue efforts to expand ties with European states.

TOLOnews reported that Taliban representatives are currently present at some Afghan diplomatic missions in Europe, including consulates in Bonn and Berlin and the Afghan Embassy in Norway. Russia remains the only country that has formally recognized the Taliban government, according to the report.

The comments reflect the Taliban’s continuing effort to move from wartime confrontation toward diplomatic engagement with Western countries. However, Western governments continue to condition broader engagement on issues including human rights, women’s and girls’ rights, governance and security.