Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia and Kyrgyzstan have jointly called for Afghanistan's reintegration into the international community, while also condemning Israel's actions against Palestinians in Gaza as genocide. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim made these remarks during a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, following discussions with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.
According to Anadolu Agency, Anwar emphasized the need to bring Afghanistan back into the fold of the international community, highlighting Kyrgyzstan's proximity and understanding of the Afghan situation. He noted that the insights from Kyrgyzstan, a neighboring country, would be valuable for Malaysia and the global community in addressing Afghan issues.
The appeal for Afghanistan's integration is significant as no United Nations member has officially recognized the Taliban's interim administration since their return to power in August 2021. Afghanistan continues to grapple with an economic crisis, exacerbated by the freezing of $7 billion in Afghan foreign assets by the United States following the withdrawal of foreign troops nearly four years ago. Notably, only a few countries, including China, have established diplomatic engagement with the Taliban-led government, with Beijing appointing an envoy to Kabul in September 2023.
In addition to the Afghan issue, the Malaysian and Kyrgyz leaders expressed grave concerns over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. They urged Israel to cease its "aggression, colonization, and genocide," stressing the need for security and justice for the affected people of Gaza. Anwar criticized the international community's failure to uphold basic human rights and pointed out the perceived contradictions and hypocrisy of many Western countries regarding the atrocities faced by Palestinians.
Furthermore, Anwar revealed that he had engaged in discussions with leaders from Iran and Qatar, contextualized by heightened tensions in the Middle East following recent US military actions on Iranian nuclear sites and subsequent retaliatory strikes by Tehran on a US base in Qatar.
On the bilateral front, the meeting between Malaysia and Kyrgyzstan also resulted in an agreement to enhance cooperation in several areas, including trade, economics, artificial intelligence (AI), science, and energy, aiming to bolster the relationship between the two nations.