Taliban Has Wiped Out All Terror Groups: Afghan FM Muttaqi in India

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 10th Oct: Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Thursday claimed that terrorist organisations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad no longer operate from Afghan soil, asserting that the Taliban has eradicated all terror networks over the past four years. Speaking during his maiden visit to India, Muttaqi advised Pakistan to “follow the same path of peace.”

“Not a single one of them is in Afghanistan. Not an inch of land is controlled by them in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan against whom we carried out an operation (in 2021) has transformed,” Muttaqi said while addressing reporters after meeting Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar.

He added that Afghanistan’s counterterrorism approach should serve as a model for its neighbours. “Let other countries also act against such terror groups like Afghanistan did for peace,” he remarked in a pointed message to Pakistan.

Muttaqi’s visit coincided with India restoring full diplomatic relations with Afghanistan. New Delhi announced that it will upgrade its Technical Mission in Kabul to a full-fledged embassy, with Jaishankar expressing India’s “deep interest” in the progress and stability of the neighbouring nation.

Addressing recent security concerns, Muttaqi blamed Pakistan for a recent blast in Kabul. “There has been an attack near the border in remote areas. We consider this act of Pakistan wrong. Problems cannot be solved like this. We are open for talks. Afghanistan has peace and progress after 40 years. No one should have a problem with it. Afghanistan is now an independent nation,” he stated.

Issuing a stern warning, the Afghan minister said, “If someone wants to do this (cause Afghans trouble), they should ask the Soviet Union, America, and NATO. They will explain that it is not good to play games with Afghanistan.”

Muttaqi reiterated that Kabul seeks improved ties with Islamabad, but insisted that “relations cannot be one-sided.”

Expressing gratitude towards India, Muttaqi lauded New Delhi for being the first responder after the recent earthquake in Afghanistan. “Afghanistan looks at India as a close friend. We want relations based on mutual respect, trade, and people-to-people connections. We are ready to create a consultative mechanism to strengthen our relations,” he said.

He also underscored the need for stronger India-Afghanistan cooperation, recalling past U.S. trade restrictions under former President Donald Trump.