Mr. Muttaqi, the primary high-level Taliban chief to be hosted by India, held a uncommon media interplay within the Embassy of Afghanistan the place he pitched for stronger bilateral commerce ties via the Wagah border crossing between India and Pakistan.
“Today, we held an in depth dialogue on our safety issues. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has proved up to now 4 years that the territory of Afghanistan won’t be used in opposition to others. Similarly, narcotics is harmful by way of its use in addition to trafficking, and each side agreed to hold out joint efforts to eradicate this drawback,” stated Mr. Muttaqi in his opening remarks. He emphasised that below the rule of the Taliban, terror teams from Pakistan, such because the Lashkar-e-Taiba, that have been identified to make use of Afghan territory to coach their cadre, have been pushed out of the Afghan territory.
No joint operations
In response to a query on India and Afghanistan finishing up joint operations to rid Afghanistan of terror teams, Mr. Muttaqi stated, “There is not any query of worldwide terrorists surviving in right now’s Afghanistan the place the federal government of the Islamic Emirate is powerful.”
“Joint operations would have been mandatory if terrorists have been discovered working in Afghanistan. We carried out intensive operations in opposition to terrorists inside Afghanistan over the previous 4 years. During this era, no menace has emanated from the territory of Afghanistan concentrating on any nation,” stated Mr. Muttaqi in response to a query on whether or not Taliban could be keen to provoke joint motion with India concentrating on terrorists in its territory.
Mr. Muttaqi, who used an interpreter to talk in Pashtu and likewise spoke in Urdu, reiterated the Islamic nature of the Taliban administration and stated, “Our authorities is predicated on Islamic precept and we need to have pleasant and brotherly ties with all international locations in our area. This is a chance for India additionally to revive the connection.”
He refused to substantiate stories that recommended that Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Kabul that left the chief of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan lifeless and maintained that locals complained of “some noise however didn’t witness any assault”.
Better commerce ties
Mr. Muttaqi urged higher commerce ties with India and stated makes an attempt must be made to strengthen commerce via Pakistani territory, particularly via the Wagah border saying that commerce via Wagah is economically viable for Afghans. “India and Pakistan shouldn’t shut Wagah because it gives an affordable path to us,” stated Mr. Muttaqi, who additionally referred to as for India to make use of the Iranian port of Chabahar.
“There are some obstacles on Chabahar due to U.S. sanctions. But these obstacles must be eliminated. In the previous one 12 months, India-Afghanistan commerce has crossed $1 billion, so you possibly can think about how a lot commerce we will do if these obstacles are handled,” stated Mr. Muttaqi.
He stated that the Taliban won’t hand over the Bagram airbase to the U.S. as being demanded by President Donald Trump and stated, “historical past is witness” that the folks of Afghanistan don’t recognize the presence of international troops on their soil.
“Afghanistan has attained independence after 4 many years and everybody ought to help our free existence,” stated Mr. Muttaqi within the press interplay that drew sharp criticism on-line for being “all male” and for excluding ladies reporters. Several ladies journalists who reached the Afghan embassy have been seen sitting outdoors the premises and weren’t allowed to enter.
“The situation of girls below Taliban has improved similar to the general regulation and order state of affairs. If the ladies would have disapproved our guidelines, they’d have come out in protest,” stated Mr. Muttaqi, answering a query whereas describing criticism of the Taliban on gender points as “worldwide propaganda”.
There have been dramatic moments earlier than the press convention when officers accompanying Mr. Muttaqi have been challenged by representatives of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan who proceed to run the affairs of the Afghan embassy in Delhi. The embassy officers objected when Mr. Muttaqi’s companions eliminated the flag of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan that was overthrown by Taliban in August 2021.
“This shouldn’t be a Taliban embassy but and we won’t enable your flag right here,” stated one of many employees members as he prevented using a big black-white flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. However, the Taliban crew got here prepared with a small table-top flag that Mr. Muttaqi positioned earlier than him whereas addressing the media.
Earlier, the Taliban’s flag was not used throughout Mr. Muttaqi’s assembly with Mr. Jaishankar in Hyderabad House as, regardless of the high-level engagement, India is but to formally recognise the Taliban. Mr. Muttaqi, nevertheless, promised to ship Taliban diplomats to the Afghan embassy in Delhi and stated, “First we’ll ship our diplomats and slowly we’ll improve.”
Mr. Muttaqi is scheduled to go to Darul Uloom in Deoband on Saturday (October 11, 2025) the place he’ll maintain conferences with college students and academics of the Islamic seminary.
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