Islamic Emirate wants good relations with all countries: Hanafi

Abdul Salam Hanafi, the administrative deputy of the Prime Minister, said on Wednesday that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) wants good and positive relations with all countries, especially neighbors.

Hanafi made the remarks at a seminar under the theme of “Advantages of Neutral Foreign Policy of Afghanistan” in Kabul.

He maintained that the Islamic Emirate does not want to be a member of any international coalitions.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan wants good relations with all its neighbors and does not interfere in their internal affairs, and it also wants good relations with all regional countries and beyond based on mutual respect and engagement,” Hanafi said.

Referring to the 20-year presence of foreign countries in Afghanistan, the participants of the seminar said that their presence caused Afghanistan’s confrontation with neighboring countries and the region.

They also said that the geopolitics of Afghanistan and the experience of the past years require that for its development, Afghanistan must maintain a policy of neutrality forever and develop a strategy for its relations with countries based on national interests.

“Considering the geopolitics of Afghanistan, this country has tried throughout history to refrain from interfering in global conflicts. During the first and second world wars, Afghanistan was able to successfully keep itself away from confrontation with the superpowers,” Mohibullah Wasiq, chief of staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said.

Meanwhile, Abdul Baqi Haqqani, head of National Examination Authority of Afghanistan, said: “The country needs reconstruction again. In order to rebuild the country and maintain its independence and protect itself against the harm of others, it is necessary for the Islamic Emirate to maintain political relations with all countries.”