IEA Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi attended the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan Plus Afghanistan Foreign Minister’s Dialogue in China.

China hosted the third meeting of Afghanistan’s neighbors’ foreign ministers meeting which the IEA Foreign Minister attended the same for the first time. The foreign ministers of Russia, Qatar, and Indonesia also attended the meeting.
FM Muttaqi said Afghanistan’s assets have been frozen and its political representation in the United Nations has been entrusted to a person who can neither represent the government nor serve the people and whose political and economic rights have been taken hostage. Minister Muttaqi said that the Islamic Emirate is trying to address all political, economic and social problems prudently.
Regarding the concerns of some countries in the region, Mr. Muttaqi said that the Da’esh had disappeared after many attacks; however, unfortunately, there is propaganda for Da’esh from outside and the media paces the way for it. Minister Muttaqi called on neighboring countries that it was time to support the new government, that strengthening the new government was in the interest of all, and that its weakness is to the detriment of all. The Afghan government is committed to addressing all concerns.
At the meeting, Mr. Muttaqi said that the new Afghan government wanted to keep Afghanistan away from confrontation with its balanced, economic-centric foreign policy. The cabinet of the Islamic Emirate has set up a ministerial-level commission to liaise with Afghan figures inside the country as well. Minister Muttaqi said the government was working to make the political structure more inclusive.
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov thanked Minister Muttaqi for his remarks and stressed his support for the Afghans. He said Western countries should fulfill their responsibility for Afghanistan. He also stressed that the former regime’s representative to the United Nations could not represent Afghanistan and was misusing the platform. He also referred to the introduction of new Afghan diplomats to Russia.
To end, Mr. Wang Yi called the meeting positive and especially thanked Minister Muttaqi for the explanations, saying that the next meeting would be held in Pakistan and would be attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan.
All participants emphasized interaction with the new government. Representatives from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan stressed the need to implement major economic and transit projects through Afghanistan.
The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who also chaired the meeting, expressed hope for Afghanistan’s progress and achievements, adding that there should be a threat to none in Afghanistan. He welcomed Minister Muttaqi’s presence at the meeting and praised Afghanistan’s stance.
The Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Quraishi also said that the question of recognizing the new government should be resolved with the consent of all regional countries.
The Indonesian and Qatari FMs called for more cooperation with Afghanistan, pledging thereon.

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