PESHAWAR: The European Union (EU) said in a statement that senior Taliban officials in Doha have sought cooperation to operationalize Afghanistan’s airports.
The statement said the Taliban also expressed “serious concern” over the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. A statement from the European Union’s Foreign Service said that talks with the Taliban did not mean recognizing their interim government, but added, it was in the interests of Europe and the Afghan people.
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The Taliban delegation was led by Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The Taliban’s acting interior, education and health ministers were joined by the acting head of the central bank and officials from the foreign, finance, interior and intelligence departments. The EU delegation was led by Thomas Nicholson, the EU Special Representative for Afghanistan.
The statement said the Taliban had promised to abide by its “general amnesty” and will allow Afghans and foreigners who wanted to leave Afghanistan. The Taliban have called on the European Union to help keep the airports operational. The statement also said that the European Union had put pressure on the Taliban to “form an inclusive government, support democracy, provide access to education for girls and prevent Afghanistan from becoming a base for terror groups.”
The statement also said that if the Taliban agreed to the terms of the European Union, more financial support would be provided to the new Afghan government, which would benefit the Afghan people directly.
On 27 November, The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has urged to end interference in its affairs in Afghanistan so that its extend the mission to reach out to those in need impartially. The IOM did not specify who was interfering in its operation in Afghanistan.
The organisation said in a statement late on Friday, “We will continue to operate impartially and without hindrance so that our partners and staff would be able to help women and all those in need in Afghanistan.”