Afghan Minister Claims Good Relations With All Neighbors Except Pakistan Amid Border Tensions

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has stated that Afghanistan is experiencing a period of peace and has no desire for conflict with any nation.

When questioned by journalists regarding recent border tensions with Pakistan, Muttaqi emphasized that Afghanistan shares borders with five other countries, all of which maintain positive relations with the Afghan government.

"We don't want conflict with anyone. There is peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan is not our only neighbor. We have five other neighbors... All of them are happy with us," he declared on Monday.

However, just a day earlier on Sunday, Muttaqi issued a warning to Pakistan, suggesting that Kabul has "other options" if Pakistan does not pursue peace. This statement came amid ongoing border clashes that have resulted in over 50 Pakistani soldiers killed and 19 Afghan border posts captured by Pakistan.

Muttaqi further elaborated, "We hope that our visits will have a positive impact on the India-Afghanistan relationship... Our trade with India exceeds $1 billion... It is good that the government, the Prime Minister, has decided to bring the technical mission in Kabul up to the level of the embassy...There are numerous opportunities for work in Afghanistan. After 45 years, tremendous peace has been achieved in Afghanistan. Due to this peace, people from all over the world come for diplomatic purposes. Everyone is happy."

The Taliban Foreign Minister has extended an invitation for India to invest in Afghanistan's mineral resources and requested New Delhi's assistance in facilitating trade through the opening of the Wagah border, describing it as the "fastest trade route" between the two nations.

During a press conference in New Delhi on Sunday, Muttaqi confirmed, "I met the Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar and talked about economy, trade, and other issues."