Kabul: The Taliban has expressed a desire to establish formal diplomatic relations with the United States, contingent upon Washington addressing the enduring legacy of its two-decade-long military involvement in Afghanistan. This was disclosed by Taliban spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi during an interview with CBS News.
According to Anadolu Agency, Balkhi emphasized that the primary achievement of the Taliban administration has been the cessation of foreign military presence. However, he acknowledged ongoing issues such as unemployment, economic challenges, and public dissatisfaction. Despite these challenges, Balkhi claimed improvements in various sectors, citing a rise in Afghan exports from $750 million in 2020 to nearly $2 billion and an increase in the number of factories from 1,500 to 6,000. He also highlighted the government's success in paying civil servants and attracting billions in investments.
The interview underscored Afghanistan's continued diplomatic isolation, with Russia being the only country to formally recognize the Taliban government. Balkhi maintained that Afghanistan is engaging diplomatically with several nations and questioned the significance of formal recognition. He expressed a desire for diplomatic ties with all countries, including the US, and invited American investment in sectors like minerals and gas.
Balkhi also addressed calls from former US President Donald Trump for the return of American-funded military equipment left behind after the 2021 withdrawal, arguing that these assets belonged to Afghanistan. He dismissed any attempts to link the equipment to the release of frozen Afghan funds. Balkhi further demanded the release of Afghan central bank assets frozen by Washington, asserting they belonged to the Afghan state rather than the Taliban.
During the interview, Balkhi reiterated the Taliban's condemnation of attacks on civilians and its commitment under the Doha agreement to prevent Afghan territory from being used to attack the US or other countries. He also discussed the suspension of public schooling for girls from seventh grade onward, rejecting reports of clandestine classes and describing the available education as homeschooling or Islamic education.
Reflecting on the war post-Sept. 11 attacks, Balkhi emphasized that conflicts should be resolved through diplomacy, urging greater cooperation for Afghanistan's reconstruction and development.