Taliban call on foreign countries to open embassies in Kabul

The Taliban on Tuesday called on foreign countries to reopen their embassies in Afghanistan, saying the war-torn nation now needed economic independence.

After the September 9, 2001 attacks, the United States invaded Afghanistan on October 7 of that year and the Taliban regime was toppled.

Then an interim government was set up under the leadership of Hamid Karzai who was elected twice for 10 years before being succeeded by Ashraf Ghani who ruled the country for about six and a half years.

The Taliban, who have now captured Kabul and control the entire country except Panjshir, had since been waging armed resistance against US and NATO forces stationed in Afghanistan and the governments of Karzai and Ghani.

Maulvi Shahabuddin Delawar, head of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, thanked the countries who did not close their embassies in Afghanistan at a meeting in Kabul to celebrate the complete withdrawal of all foreign troops from the country.

“We welcome countries that have not closed their embassies in Kabul and urge other countries to open their embassies as well,” he added.

He said the Islamic Emirate had taken into account Afghanistan’s national interests in the Doha agreement with the United States.

Last night as the last US troops left Afghanistan, the Taliban celebrated their complete withdrawal from the country with aerial fire.

“Our country has gained full independence,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman and head of the cultural affairs commission.

He added that after the complete withdrawal of foreign troops, all Afghans should join hands and be united. He said no one could defeat a united nation.

“Economic independence is also needed. All economists must work hard to improve the economy,” Mujahid said. “A number of countries have contacted me that they are interested in investing in Afghanistan.”

He called on all countries to engage in diplomatic relations with Afghanistan, adding that the United States had been defeated but they wanted good relations with the country.