Five years after the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban are calling on Washington to return to the country, this time not with military troops, but with diplomacy and investment. The Foreign Minister of the Taliban administration, Amir Khan Muttaqi, said that the US could reopen the embassy in Kabul and invest in the Afghan economy.
According to Muttaqi, American investments could include the mining sector, dam construction and road construction, writes the New York Times . He has made it clear that the return of US troops is not part of the proposal, stressing that Afghans would not accept a foreign military presence.
The call comes at a time when the Taliban are trying to expand diplomatic and economic ties with other countries. Russia has become the first country to officially recognize the Taliban government, while China, Iran, India and other countries have increased contacts with Kabul. However, the Taliban regime remains largely isolated internationally.
Only Russia officially recognizes it, while restrictions on women and girls, including a ban on education and restrictions on employment, remain among the main issues hindering normalization of relations with the West. The demand for American investment is also linked to Afghanistan’s mineral wealth, which could be attractive to the administration of President Donald Trump.
However, previous American efforts to develop the Afghan mining sector have not yielded the expected results. Essentially, Kabul is seeking to bring its former enemy back with capital and diplomatic relations, while the Taliban tries to emerge from international isolation and secure foreign investment for the country’s economy. /Telegraph