By Mitra Majeedy in ToloNews, July 31, 2023 at 8:48 PM
The acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in the meeting with US officials in Doha stressed the need for the removal of sanctions, according to the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman.
The spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, told TOLOnews that Muttaqi also urged the US to not create obstacles for the economic development of Afghanistan.
“The obstacles should not be created ahead of Afghanistan’s development. The sanctions on the banks should be removed and the Afghans should be allowed to take actions which improve the country. There was discussion with the Qatari side as well,” he said.
Muttaqi left Kabul on Saturday for Qatar to meet with the US special envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West and Rina Amiri, the US special envoy for Afghan women, girls and human rights.
Meanwhile, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Twitter that the delegation, which was led by Muttaqi and comprised of representatives from Da Afghanistan Bank and Finance Ministry as well as officials from the Afghan embassy in Doha, met with the US special envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West and his 15-member delegation in Doha over the past two-days, according to Abdul Qahar Balkhi, MoFA’s Spokesman.
Balkhi said that the issues of trust-building and practical actions in this regard, blacklists and the removal of sanctions, the release of Afghan assets, continuance of economic stability of Afghanistan, counter-narcotics and human rights were discussed.
Political analysts said that such meetings are important as Afghanistan is facing various problems including engagement with the international community.
“The ensuring of political, diplomatic, and close relations between the countries for incentivizing peace and stability and security in Afghanistan and also in the regional countries is important,” said Najib Rahman Shamal, a political analyst.
“After the passing of two years of government by the Taliban, the (meeting) of the high-level delegation of the Taliban with a high level delegation of the US, based on the US invitation, will have a specific agenda and it could be influential,” said Aziz Maarij, a political analyst.
The US Department of State said in a statement that in Doha, West and Amiri will meet with a “delegation of Taliban representatives and technocratic professionals from key Afghan ministries to discuss critical interests in Afghanistan.”
According to the statement, the priority issues will include humanitarian support for the Afghans, economic stabilization, “fair and dignified treatment of all Afghans, including women and girls, security issues, and efforts to counter narcotics production and trafficking.”
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184432
