Taliban foreign minister warns US, Pakistan during India visit

Bangla Press Desk:    Afghanistan will not tolerate any form of “foreign control” on its soil, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said during his visit to India.

Speaking at a press conference at the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi on the second day of his trip, Muttaqi responded to former US President Donald Trump’s recent call to bring the Bagram Air Base back under American control.

Muttaqi, who is on his first-ever visit to India since the Taliban’s return to power, required a special exemption from the United Nations to make the trip, as he remains on the list of “sanctioned terrorists.”

Following the Taliban takeover of Kabul, India had initially maintained a cautious distance from the regime, but diplomatic engagement between the two countries has recently increased. The Afghan and Indian foreign ministries have held several rounds of talks in recent months, leading up to Muttaqi’s visit.

On Thursday, he met with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, who announced the upgrade of India’s technical mission in Kabul to the status of an embassy.

From Indian soil, Muttaqi issued remarks targeting both Pakistan and the United States. In a stern tone, he warned Pakistan against “provocative actions” inside Afghanistan, saying, “They should not think of testing the courage of Afghans.”

Referring to recent attacks near the border areas, he accused Pakistan of wrongdoing, saying, “There have been attacks in remote border regions. We consider Pakistan’s actions a mistake. Afghanistan has achieved peace and progress after 40 years of conflict. No one should try to test our courage. If anyone wishes to, they should ask the Soviet Union, the United States, and NATO what happens when one plays with Afghanistan.”

On the US issue, Muttaqi rejected Trump’s suggestion to reoccupy Bagram Air Base, declaring, “Afghanistan has already proved that we have never accepted any foreign military presence, and we never will.”

He added, “Afghanistan is a sovereign nation and will remain so. If anyone wishes to engage with us, it should be through diplomatic missions, not through military uniforms.”

BP/TD