Amir Khan Muttaqi
Except for Pakistan, all of Afghanistan’s neighbours are “happy” with the country, Afghanistan’s Taliban-appointed foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said on Monday. “We don’t want conflict with anyone. There is peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan is not our only neighbour — we have five other neighbours, and all of them are happy with us,” Muttaqi said, according to ANI. He is currently on a week-long visit to India — the first by a senior Taliban figure since the group seized power following the withdrawal of US troops in August 2021.Muttaqi made the remarks while responding to questions about the recent Afghanistan-Pakistan border clashes, which were triggered by Pakistani air strikes in Afghan capital Kabul. A day earlier, Muttaqi had warned Pakistan that Kabul has “other options” if Islamabad “does not want peace.”On Monday, Muttaqi also expressed optimism that his trip would help strengthen bilateral ties with India.”We hope our visits will positively impact India-Afghanistan relations. Our trade with India has surpassed $1 billion. It is good that the Indian government and the Prime Minister have decided to upgrade the technical mission in Kabul to the level of an embassy. There are numerous opportunities for investment in Afghanistan. After 45 years, the country has achieved significant peace, and people from around the world are visiting for diplomatic purposes. Everyone is happy,” he stated. Muttaqi also invited India to invest in Afghanistan’s mineral sector and urged New Delhi to facilitate trade by opening the Wagah border, describing it as the “fastest trade route” between the two countries.
