Afghanistan Open for Business and Diplomacy, Muttaqi Tells US
Taliban’s Acting FM Muttaqi Invites US Diplomacy, Rejects Military Presence
KABUL, AUG 16: Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in an interview with BBC Persian that US citizens can come to Afghanistan for business and diplomatic relations, but not in military uniforms.
In this interview, Muttaqi also said that the interim government seeks good relations with all countries, including the United States.
The acting Foreign Minister said, “When we were negotiating with the Americans in Doha, we said there, and we still say now, that we cannot accept an American individual in military uniform in Afghanistan, but if you come in diplomatic attire, there is no problem.”
Amir Khan Muttaqi further clarified that US cash aid does not reach the interim government. According to him, not a single US dollar has been provided to the interim government by the United States in the past three years, and US assistance is being used for international organizations and the evacuation of Afghans abroad.
The acting Foreign Minister also stressed that the interim government does not take transit fees or taxes from aid organizations.
Muttaqi said, “The aid provided by countries, particularly the United States, is given through the system that has been active within the framework of the United Nations for years, whether it be an institution or an organization. Not a single dollar has been given to the government of Afghanistan in the past three years.”
The acting Foreign Minister attributed the suspension of consular activities and embassies in some countries to the presence of corruption, adding that Afghan citizens can visit the nearest political representative office to resolve their issues.
Regarding reports of Ayman al-Zawahiri’s killing in Kabul by the US, he said: “We tried to ensure that these representatives cooperate, maintain contact with the center, and end the corruption and embezzlement there, but unfortunately, it didn’t work. Eventually, we had to declare them incompetent.”
The acting Foreign Minister further said that elections in Afghanistan have not yielded much results, and no decision has been made about them by the interim government.
