-Says Afghan govt will continue to provide diplomatic and political support to oppressed Muslims
-Taliban asks airlines to resume flights to Afghanistan
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Acting Deputy Information Minister of Afghanistan and Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid on Sunday said the Afghan government condemned the Human Rights Violations (HRV) in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In an interview with Pakistan Television, he said “the Afghan government would continue to provide diplomatic and political support to oppressed Muslims in different parts of the world,” he said.
While appreciating Pakistan for supporting Afghanistan before the international community, Mr. Zabihullah said that if an invitation is extended to Afghan leadership for a visit to Pakistan, it would be considered.
He said that Pakistan has been vocal and urged the world community to engage with Afghanistan. “Pakistan is a neighbour and Afghanistan is thankful for Pakistan’s stance regarding Afghanistan,” the Taliban’s top spokesperson added.
He said that Afghanistan wants good relations with the international community and desires to expand trade and economic ties. “We hope that neighbouring countries will continue to extend support to Afghanistan before the international community.”
The minister said that many countries have raised “voices in our favour before the international community and the United States”.Qatar, Uzbekistan and other countries have also adopted a positive stance towards Afghanistan, he said, adding six days back China and Russia talked in our favour at the United Nations General Assembly.
“The relations of Afghanistan with its neighbours and the international community are important,” he noted. Zabihullah also said that the war had ended in Panjshir and “we do not desire war with anybody”.
“Time had come that the Afghan nation should work for the progress and prosperity of Afghanistan.”
After peace in Afghanistan, he said, the new regime’s priority is to expand trade with other countries.
The Taliban spokesperson warned that if any group would attack Afghanistan or would fight with the government, action would be taken.
He said Afghanistan would be further connected by road to Peshawar and different cities of Pakistan.
To a question, he said the desecration of the Pakistani flag at the Afghan border was an unfortunate incident and assured that action would be taken against anybody who would damage relations between Islamabad and Kabul.
Meanwhile, the Taliban government in Afghanistan appealed on Sunday for international flights to be resumed, promising full cooperation with airlines and saying that problems at Kabul airport had been resolved.
The statement from the foreign affairs ministry comes as the new administration has stepped up efforts to open up the country and gain international acceptance following the collapse of the Western-backed government last month.
A limited number of aid and passenger flights have been operating from the airport. But normal commercial services have yet to resume since it was closed in the wake of the chaotic evacuation of tens of thousands of foreigners and vulnerable Afghans that followed the Taliban’s seizure of the capital.
The airport, which was damaged during the evacuation, has since been reopened with the assistance of technical teams from Qatar and Turkey.While some airlines including Pakistan International Airlines have been offering limited services and some people have been able to get places on flights, prices have been reported to be many times higher than normal.
Foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said the suspension of international flights had left many Afghans stranded abroad and also prevented people from travelling for work or study.
“As the problems at Kabul International Airport have been resolved and the airport is fully operational for domestic and international flights, the IEA assures all airlines of its full cooperation,” he said, using an abbreviation for Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Taliban’s term for their new government.
Since taking power, the Taliban have grappled with a severe economic crisis and have faced pressure on issues ranging from girls’ education to allegations of reprisals against former officials and others associated with the previous government.
