Taliban remind US of its promise to de-list its leaders from terror lists

Amir Khan Muttaqi. Pic/AFP

The Taliban-led interim government in Afghanistan has reminded the US and the western world of the promises that the US made for de-listing its top leadership from global sanctions and terror lists, along with ensuing legitimacy to its government, calling on Washington to fulfil its promise and refrain from what it called undue criticism of the government setup in Afghanistan.

Acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban-led government, Amir Khan Muttaqi, revealed that the US has agreed to ensure legitimacy to the Taliban government and de-listing of its leaders from global sanctions lists and removal of their names from the list of designated terrorists in the Doha agreement, which led to the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.

"During the Doha agreement, the US gave it in writing that it would ensure the legitimacy of the Taliban-led government by the international community and would also ensure removal of names of Taliban senior leaders from global sanctions and designated lists," he said.

The statement is important as the western countries are criticising the interim setup of the Taliban in Afghanistan for having names of individuals, who have global sanctions against them, besides carrying millions of dollars worth bounties on their heads.

The western countries, along with the international community and the US, have stated that it is difficult for them to recognise the Taliban leadership with questionable history and global sanctions.

However, the Taliban's latest statement, revealing that global legitimacy for the Taliban leadership is part of the Doha agreement, mutually agreed by Washington, has certainly raised may eyebrows over the logic and basis behind such a commitment.

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On the other hand, Washington continues to deny giving any recognition or legitimacy to the interim Taliban government, insisting that no recognition can be given until the Taliban meet the international demands and concerns.

The international demands include the formation of an inclusive government with the representation of women and other ethnic groups, provision of rights to women and positive commitment on not turning Afghanistan into a safe haven for terror organisations, which may become a major security concern for the US, the world and the region.

But the Taliban say that all demands of the international community have already been met as they claim that the current interim government is in fact an all-inclusive one.

"The current interim government is an all-inclusive government and has representation from all ethnicities. We have already said from the start that our soil will not be allowed to be used for terrorism. And women in Afghanistan are free to continue their education and work," said acting Foreign Minister Muttaqi.

"I want to again say that this is an interim government and changes will be made to the setup until we form a permanent government," he added.

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