Amidst new efforts by the government in Kabul to gain international recognition, Taliban has said that they are ready to receive and provide security to Indian diplomats.
And as winter approaches, the humanitarian crisis threatens to get worse Afghanistan, Taliban spokesman and designated ambassador to the United Nations Suhail Shaheen also told TOI Taliban Would welcome assistance at this critical juncture.
Responding to a TOI query on whether Indian diplomats can return to Afghanistan, Shaheen said, “We are open to receiving all diplomats and are committed to providing security for their routine diplomatic work.”
Asked about India’s offer of aid to Afghanistan on the sidelines of the Moscow draft talks recently, he said, “Similarly, we welcome humanitarian aid at this critical time as winter is around the corner.”
Contrary to its silence on the first official talks with India in Doha in August this year, the Taliban confirmed a meeting with an Indian delegation in Moscow last month. He also said that India had offered humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan at the Moscow meeting and both sides felt it was necessary to take into account each other’s concerns and improve “diplomatic and economic ties”.
The Indian government may focus on humanitarian aid to the Afghan people at a conference of national security advisers next month. India is also exploring the possibility of providing humanitarian aid to Afghans wagah-attari land border. Significantly, the government last month sought to know from Pakistan, which prevents India from exporting to Afghanistan through the above route, whether it would allow India a large consignment of wheat (about 50,000 metric tonnes) and medical aid to Afghanistan. .
While it will be interesting to see whether Pakistan facilitates this initiative in the coming days, India must first ensure that non-discriminatory distribution of food and medical aid is assured upon arrival in Afghanistan. India believes that such an exercise should be supervised by the United Nations.
Shaheen’s remarks also come amid a renewed pitch by the Taliban government in Kabul to seek international legitimacy. The Taliban warned the US and others last week that if their demands for recognition were not met and if Afghan funds pooled abroad, it could become a problem not only for the region but for the world.
“Our message to the US is, if non-recognition continues, Afghan problems continue, it is a problem of the region and could become a problem for the world,” a Taliban spokesman said. zabiullah mujahidi was quoted as saying.
India withdrew its diplomats from Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul and has so far rejected official recognition for the Kabul government, saying it is not inclusive. Even Russia, working closely with the Taliban, has said it is in no hurry to recognize the Taliban and will wait to see if they deliver on their promises. According to media reports, Pakistan has also not officially recognized the Taliban government, but last week it allowed Taliban diplomats to take control of the Afghanistan embassy in Islamabad.
And as winter approaches, the humanitarian crisis threatens to get worse Afghanistan, Taliban spokesman and designated ambassador to the United Nations Suhail Shaheen also told TOI Taliban Would welcome assistance at this critical juncture.
Responding to a TOI query on whether Indian diplomats can return to Afghanistan, Shaheen said, “We are open to receiving all diplomats and are committed to providing security for their routine diplomatic work.”
Asked about India’s offer of aid to Afghanistan on the sidelines of the Moscow draft talks recently, he said, “Similarly, we welcome humanitarian aid at this critical time as winter is around the corner.”
Contrary to its silence on the first official talks with India in Doha in August this year, the Taliban confirmed a meeting with an Indian delegation in Moscow last month. He also said that India had offered humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan at the Moscow meeting and both sides felt it was necessary to take into account each other’s concerns and improve “diplomatic and economic ties”.
The Indian government may focus on humanitarian aid to the Afghan people at a conference of national security advisers next month. India is also exploring the possibility of providing humanitarian aid to Afghans wagah-attari land border. Significantly, the government last month sought to know from Pakistan, which prevents India from exporting to Afghanistan through the above route, whether it would allow India a large consignment of wheat (about 50,000 metric tonnes) and medical aid to Afghanistan. .
While it will be interesting to see whether Pakistan facilitates this initiative in the coming days, India must first ensure that non-discriminatory distribution of food and medical aid is assured upon arrival in Afghanistan. India believes that such an exercise should be supervised by the United Nations.
Shaheen’s remarks also come amid a renewed pitch by the Taliban government in Kabul to seek international legitimacy. The Taliban warned the US and others last week that if their demands for recognition were not met and if Afghan funds pooled abroad, it could become a problem not only for the region but for the world.
“Our message to the US is, if non-recognition continues, Afghan problems continue, it is a problem of the region and could become a problem for the world,” a Taliban spokesman said. zabiullah mujahidi was quoted as saying.
India withdrew its diplomats from Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul and has so far rejected official recognition for the Kabul government, saying it is not inclusive. Even Russia, working closely with the Taliban, has said it is in no hurry to recognize the Taliban and will wait to see if they deliver on their promises. According to media reports, Pakistan has also not officially recognized the Taliban government, but last week it allowed Taliban diplomats to take control of the Afghanistan embassy in Islamabad.
.