Muttaqi: No Afghan accepts foreign military presence / Rejection of Trump's request to return to Afghanistan

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: Amir Khan Muttaqi, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in an interview with the New York Times on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the fall of the republican system and the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, referring to the repeated requests of US President Donald Trump to retake the Bagram base and military presence in the country, emphasized that the people of the country do not accept a foreign military presence in this country.

 

He emphasized: "No Afghan wants the military presence of another country on Afghan soil, and no one can tolerate such a presence; history has shown this."

 

The Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate continued by pointing out that opposition to the US military presence does not mean opposition to political and economic engagement with Washington, stating that the US can reopen its embassy in Kabul, have a diplomatic presence, and invest in various economic sectors of the country.

 

He specifically mentioned the country's mines, dams, and roads as areas in which Washington could invest, saying that these projects could be part of a "new chapter" in relations between the two countries.

 

In contrast, the US State Department, in response to questions from the New York Times, ruled out the possibility of normalizing relations with the Islamic Emirate, saying that the ruling body has failed to make the country more stable or adhere to its anti-terrorism commitments.

 

According to reports from news sources and social media, these statements come at a time when the country has signed a defense agreement with Russia and achieved dozens of trade agreements with Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, over the past year. Islamic Emirate officials have also expanded their relations and interactions with some Arab and European countries.

 

Despite the official US position, some former American diplomats and analysts are calling for the resumption of broader dialogue between the US and the Islamic Emirate. Former US diplomat Robin Raffel stated that Washington’s renewed engagement with Kabul could facilitate US access to the country’s mineral resources and help counter the influence of China and Russia in the country.

 

According to political and international experts, Muttaqi’s statements in an interview with the New York Times indicate the Islamic Emirate’s efforts to maintain its principled positions vis-à-vis the US, while opening the doors to economic and diplomatic engagement with Washington.

 

Observers say that despite rejecting the US military presence, the emphasis on economic investment and the reopening of the embassy indicate the Islamic Emirate’s pragmatic approach towards the US. However, the US State Department’s negative stance and rejection of normalization of relations indicate that the gap between the two sides continues.