Muttaqi says parallel mechanisms to deal with Afghanistan are not needed

Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has said in a meeting with the UN special envoy for Afghanistan that the country has a single, legitimate and authorized venue to discuss any international issue.

During the meeting, the sides discussed deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, assistance to returnees and the recent UN report on Afghanistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Sunday.

Muttaqi pointed out that the war in Afghanistan is completely over and therefore it is better for the United Nations and the international community to support the achievements of the Islamic Emirate in the fields of security, governance, counter-narcotics and other areas. He also asked the international community to focus on issues such as economic sanctions, frozen assets and Afghanistan’s self-sufficiency.

Muttaqi said that Afghanistan has a single, legitimate and authorized venue to discuss any kind of international issue, and therefore countries and organizations need to engage with Afghanistan through the official and accepted channels and instead of creating parallel and additional mechanisms, they should strengthen the existing mechanism in Afghanistan.

In the meeting, UN special envoy for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, appreciated the response of the Islamic Emirate following the Herat earthquakes and the return of refugees and said that the UN agencies are trying to play their role in the fight against drugs, helping farmers and returnees and creating jobs. She said that the UN agencies will also create small loan opportunities.