ISLAMABAD: The Taliban have started reaching out to the world in an attempt to address the concerns of the international community and held meetings with a number of ambassadors based in Doha, Qatar in the last couple of days.
The head, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, of Taliban’s Political Office in Doha, met the envoys of Pakistan, UK and Germany and discussed matters related to the crisis in the war-torn country, Taliban Spokesman Suhail Shaheen said in a series of tweets Friday.
He shared that the Taliban delegation met with Pakistani ambassador Syed Ahsan Raza Shah.
“Both sides discussed the current Afghan situation, humanitarian assistance, bilateral relations based on mutual interest and respect, reconstruction of Afghanistan and issues related to facilitating people’s movement at Torkhan and Spinboldak,” the spokesman wrote.
The ambassador also hosted a dinner in honour of the visiting delegation, according to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan.
The Taliban spokesperson said the Political Office delegation has also held meetings with the UK, Indian and Canadian officials in the last few days.
In a meeting with Simon Gass, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of UK and his delegation in Doha, Suhail Shaheen said humanitarian assistance, political and security topics as well as mutual relations came under discussion.
“The UK delegation reiterated that they had already increased their humanitarian assistance and was ready to cooperate with IEA in future as well.”
The Taliban delegation, in discussions with German Ambassador to Afghanistan Markus Potzel, sought assistance in the rehabilitation of the airport.
They also exchanged views on the ongoing situation of the country and issues related to economic development and humanitarian assistance.
The German delegation, the Taliban spokesperson added, emphasised on boosting and continuing their humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
Earlier, Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Director Taliban Political Office also held a phone conversation with Wu Jianghao, Deputy Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China.
TALIBAN YET TO NAME GOVERNMENT AS PANJSHIR RESISTANCE HOLDS: Fresh fighting was reported Saturday between the Taliban and resistance forces in Afghanistan s Panjshir Valley, even as the hardline Islamists finalise a new government that will set the tone for their rule.
Facing the challenge of morphing from insurgents to rulers, the Taliban appear determined to snuff out the Panjshir resistance before announcing who will lead the country in the aftermath of Monday s US troop withdrawal, which was supposed to end two decades of war.
But Panjshir, which held out for nearly a decade against the Soviet Union s occupation and also the Taliban s first rule from 1996-2001, is stubbornly holding out.
Fighters from the so-called National Resistance Front (NRF) — made up of anti-Taliban militia and former Afghan security forces — are understood to have stockpiled a significant armoury in the valley, around 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Kabul and guarded by a narrow gorge.
Celebratory gunfire rang out in the capital Kabul overnight as rumours spread the valley had fallen, but the Taliban made no official claim Saturday and a resident told AFP by phone that the reports were false.
The Emergency Hospital in Kabul said two people were killed and 20 wounded by the salvos, as the Taliban tweeted a stern admonishment warning its fighters to stop.
“Avoid firing in the air and thank God instead,” said chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, tipped to become the new regime s information minister.
“The weapons and bullets given to you are public property. No one has the right to waste them. The bullets can also harm civilians, don t shoot in vain.”
In Panjshir, former vice-president Amrullah Saleh, holed out alongside Ahmad Massoud — the son of legendary anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud — admitted the perilous position of the NRF.
“The situation is difficult, we have been under invasion,” Saleh said in a video message.
Usually known for his sharp Western suits, Saleh was filmed wearing a traditional shalwar kameez tunic and a flat woollen pakol cap favoured by Panjshiris.
“The resistance is continuing and will continue,” he added.
