Taliban Official Says Kabul-Washington Relations Enter a New Phase
The Head of the Political Directorate at the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the 20-year US military presence in Afghanistan represented an exceptional phase in bilateral relations, and that the current situation fundamentally differs from that period.
Zaker Jalali recently remarked that there is no significant complexity in the current relations between Kabul and Washington. He also described the United States’ role in several major infrastructure projects, including Kandahar Airport and the Kajaki Dam in Helmand province, as “notable,” emphasizing that these contributions should not be overlooked.
According to the Taliban official, the current level of engagement has reached a stage where no serious obstacles are seen in the path of rebuilding and expanding bilateral relations. This comes despite Afghanistan continuing to face widespread political, economic, and human rights crises, with the Taliban administration’s lack of international legitimacy posing serious challenges to the country’s foreign relations.
Jalali wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) page that the signing of the Doha agreement reflected a degree of pragmatism from both sides, providing a foundation to move beyond the past and adopt a realistic approach focused on potential opportunities in this new phase. However, critics argue that until the Taliban administration meets the international community’s demands, especially regarding human rights and political participation, talk of expanding sustainable relations remains highly questionable.
