Afghan FM Highlights Regional Harmony Amid Tensions with Pakistan, Eyes Deeper Ties with India

In a candid assessment of Afghanistan’s diplomatic landscape, Taliban-appointed Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi asserted that the country enjoys cordial relations with all its neighbors except Pakistan, which he described as its sole dissatisfied counterpart. Speaking during a week-long visit to India the first by a high-ranking Taliban official since the group’s takeover in August 2021 following the U.S. troop withdrawal Muttaqi emphasized Kabul’s commitment to peace.

“We have no desire for confrontation with any party,” Muttaqi declared, as reported by ANI. “Afghanistan is at peace internally. Pakistan isn’t our sole neighbor; we share borders with five others, and they all maintain positive ties with us.” His comments came in response to inquiries about escalating border skirmishes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, ignited by recent Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul.

The day prior, Muttaqi had issued a stern caution to Islamabad, noting that Kabul possesses “alternative measures” should Pakistan persist in undermining regional stability. This exchange underscores ongoing frictions, including cross-border incursions and disputes over militant safe havens.

Shifting focus to India, Muttaqi voiced confidence that his trip would bolster bilateral engagement. “We anticipate these exchanges will enhance India-Afghanistan relations,” he said. Trade volumes between the two nations have already exceeded $1 billion, a milestone he hailed as promising. Muttaqi praised New Delhi’s decision to elevate its technical mission in Kabul to full embassy status, signaling renewed diplomatic momentum.

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He spotlighted Afghanistan’s investment potential, particularly in its untapped mineral resources, inviting Indian firms to participate. After four decades of turmoil, the minister noted, the country has attained “substantial stability,” drawing global diplomats and fostering optimism. “Visitors from across the world are coming for talks, and satisfaction prevails,” he added.

To streamline commerce, Muttaqi advocated reopening the Wagah border as the most efficient conduit for goods between India and Afghanistan. This call aligns with broader efforts to revive economic corridors disrupted by years of conflict.

As Afghanistan navigates its post-Taliban era, Muttaqi’s outreach to India reflects a strategic pivot toward South Asian partners amenable to collaboration, even as border volatility with Pakistan tests the Taliban’s regional aspirations.