ISLAMABAD: The Taliban have begun reaching out to the international community in an effort to address concerns raised by the international community, and have met with a number of diplomats located in Doha, Qatar in recent days.
Taliban Spokesman Suhail Shaheen stated in a series of tweets Friday that the leader of the Taliban’s Political Office in Doha, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, met with the envoys of Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and Germany and addressed issues relating to the crisis in the war-torn nation.
Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, Pakistan’s envoy, met with the Taliban group, he said.
The spokesperson added, “Both sides addressed the present Afghan situation, humanitarian assistance, bilateral ties based on mutual interest and respect, Afghanistan rebuilding, and problems connected to enabling people’s mobility at Torkhan and Spinboldak.”
According to Pakistan’s state-run Associated Press, the ambassador also held a banquet in honour of the visiting group.
In recent days, the Taliban’s Political Office team has met with officials from the United Kingdom, India, and Canada, according to a Taliban spokeswoman.
Suhail Shaheen said humanitarian assistance, political and security issues, and mutual ties were discussed at a meeting with Simon Gass, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and his entourage in Doha.
“The UK delegation reaffirmed that they had already boosted their humanitarian aid and that they were willing to work with the IEA in the future.”
In talks with German Ambassador to Afghanistan Markus Potzel, the Taliban team requested aid in the airport’s reconstruction.
They also discussed the country’s current condition, as well as concerns such as economic growth and humanitarian aid.
The German team, according to the Taliban spokeswoman, emphasised the need of increasing and maintaining humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
Earlier, Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Director of the Taliban Political Office, spoke over the phone with Wu Jianghao, the People’s Republic of China’s Deputy Foreign Minister.
“The Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister stated that their embassy in Kabul will be maintained, and that our relations would be strengthened in comparison to the past. Afghanistan has the potential to play a significant role in the region’s stability and prosperity. China will also maintain and expand its humanitarian aid, particularly for the treatment of COVID-19, according to Suhail Shaheen.
