The Taliban administration has called for formal diplomatic relations with the United States, even as restrictions on girls’ education remain in force in Afghanistan, and no solution was offered in the interview for reopening schools and universities.<\/p>\n
Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesman for the Taliban administration’s foreign ministry, told CBS News that Afghanistan wants formal diplomatic relations with all countries in the world, including the United States. He also welcomed the return of U.S. diplomatic presence and investment in sectors such as mining and gas.<\/p>\n
Girls’ education was also raised in the interview. CBS News reporter Imtiaz Tyab brought up restrictions on education for girls from seventh grade to university, but instead of referring to the removal of these restrictions, Balkhi said girls could be educated through religious schools, online education and home schooling, and that home education had not been banned.<\/p>\n
The interview also addressed Afghanistan’s broad social and humanitarian problems. The CBS News reporter pointed to unemployment, hunger and high rates of maternal and child mortality, but Balkhi only said that Afghanistan faces many challenges and that the Taliban administration is working to resolve them.<\/p>\n
In another part of the interview, the Taliban administration’s foreign ministry spokesman claimed that the biggest achievement of the past five years had been the end of foreign forces’ presence and an improvement in Afghanistan’s security situation. He also claimed that Afghanistan’s exports had risen from about $750 million in 2020 to nearly $2 billion, and that the number of factories had increased from around 1,500 to nearly 6,000.<\/p>\n
Balkhi also said Afghanistan’s central bank assets belong to the Afghan government and that keeping them frozen is not in the interest of the people of Afghanistan, the United States or the international financial system. In response to a question about U.S. military equipment left in Afghanistan, he said the Taliban administration does not intend to strike a deal or reach an agreement over Afghanistan’s state assets.<\/p>\n
He also spoke about the September 11 attacks, saying Afghanistan’s position on targeting civilians is clear and that it condemns such attacks. According to him, Afghanistan will not allow its territory to be used to attack the United States or any other country.<\/p>\n
The United States suspended its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Since then, restrictions on girls’ education have been one of the main areas of global criticism of the Taliban administration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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