PESHAWAR: Interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Friday expressed hope that talks between Pakistan and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) will bear positive results and said some progress has been made.
Speaking with the media, the Taliban’s top envoy said people shouldn’t expect the dialogue to take place over a few days as these things take time. “There have been some positive improvements and we are hopeful for a positive outcome of the talks,” he added.
The comment by the Afghan FM came amid reports that a ceasefire has been signed between the TTP and the Pakistan government to put an end to militancy in the region. The talks are reportedly being brokered by the Taliban government in Afghanistan.
Muttaqi, who visited Pakistan to attend a meeting on Afghanistan, said the Afghan delegation and the Pakistani authorities talked about transit trade, refugee and visa issues among other things.
He added that there would be “good news” for Pak-Afghan ties. According to Muttaqi, the Taliban regime demanded trade access to the Wagah border, Karachi and Gwadar ports to boost the trade.
In a comment on global recognition of the Taliban regime, he said if ‘recognition’ meant ‘cooperation’ then the Taliban delegations were travelling around the world, meeting envoys and discussing issues pertaining to Afghanistan. “This means we have been recognised as the sole representatives of Afghanistan,” he added.
Alluding to global demands of an inclusive government and fundamental rights in Afghanistan, he said the Taliban will fulfil demands that are beneficial to the Afghan people. “But this does not mean that the Taliban are not open to talks on contentious issues,” he added.
Speaking about women’s rights in Afghanistan, Muttaqi said 100 per cent of Afghan women were working in the health sector, whereas in the education sector, the number was around 75 per cent. He said the education for girls will start soon across Afghanistan.
Muttaqi said primary schools were open in all parts of the country and secondary schools have resumed classes in a few provinces. He added there were 200,000 teachers in Afghanistan and the world should help the Taliban government in payment of their salaries.
The envoy further said the Taliban founder, Mullah Omar, had directed the Taliban to use the constitution of King Zahir Shah, but the Taliban will strike down clauses that are against Islamic principles. “I am making it clear that Afghanistan is not a lawless country,” he added.
He said the ex-Afghan National Army personnel will not be integrated as the Taliban-led Afghanistan won’t have the need for such a large force. “We will have our own force soon,” he added.
