Taliban Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Shir Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai expressed a desire for good relations with the US, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
Speaking at an event in Kabul, Stanekzai specifically asked US President-elect Donald Trump to change the current US policy towards Afghanistan and adopt a new one based on the Doha Agreement signed between the Taliban and the US in 2020.
Stanekzai specified that the Taliban are ready to be friends with the US, stating that “the enemy is not always the enemy“.
However, he outlined specific conditions for improving ties, including lifting economic sanctions, unfreezing assets of Afghanistan in foreign banks, removing Taliban leaders from blacklists, non-interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs, and recognition of the Taliban government.
The Taliban government is not recognized by the international community because of its policies towards Afghan women and girls. Since returning to power, the Taliban government has not allowed Afghan girls and women to study beyond primary school. Initially, the Taliban authorities said that the ban was temporary and would be lifted after creating a safe environment for girls to attend school, but so far no changes have been made.
The Taliban deny imposing a complete ban on women's activities and emphasize that since they came to power, nearly 9,000 work permits have been issued to women.