Russian Special Representative for Afghanistan Calls US’ Freezing of Afghan Funds "Theft"

Taliban’s foreign minister, who travelled to Uzbekistan to participate in an international conference on Afghanistan, visited the embassy of Afghanistan in Tashkent for the first time.

On August 15, 2021, Taliban took over Afghanistan and all the government infrastructure. Since then, no country has recognized the Taliban as a legitimate government in Afghanistan.

The Taliban has continuously tried to take efforts to take over the management of Afghanistan's embassies and political representations. So far, the group has only had luck with Islamabad, Tehran, and Moscow, to install Taliban representatives. Many countries in the world haven’t cooperated with the group.

Among other initiatives, the Taliban has sent official letters to Afghanistan embassies seeking their cooperation and support, however, most of these efforts have failed.

A number of Afghan diplomats told media personnel that they did not pay attention to the Taliban's letters and their request to hold online meetings. These diplomats have stressed that their work is to lobby for the formation of a democratic government based on elections in Afghanistan.

The US special representative for Afghanistan emphasised that the US and the Taliban have differences, but with winter approaching, the people of Afghanistan will face more problems. Hence, United States, as the largest donor of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, is ready to discuss with the Taliban the release of Afghan frozen funds, he stated.

Rina Amiri, the US Special Representative on Women and Human rights in Afghanistan, too, addressed the Tashkent conference. Amiri’s address was more focused on Afghan people's demand for education for girls, women's fundamental rights, and political stability.

The international meeting in Tashkent on Afghanistan started on Tuesday with a one-day delay.

Representatives of the United States, Russia, European Union, China, UK, India, Iran, Pakistan, and several other countries are participating in the Tashkent conference.

A delegation led by Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting minister of foreign affairs of the Taliban, also participated in this meeting. However, Uzbekistan said that the presence of the group’s delegates in this meeting does not mean the recognition of the Taliban regime.

The conference, set to be held till July 26, will see the US delegation seeking the international community to underscore their support for the Afghan people and will call on the Taliban to fulfil their commitments to the Afghan people and the international community.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tashkent said the main objective behind the event was to promote stability, security, and post-conflict reconstruction in Afghanistan. A statement from the ministry, said the conference was focused on Afghanistan’s integration into regional cooperation processes.

On July 27, US Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson, will join Special Representative West for a meeting with the Taliban to address the economic challenges faced by the Afghan people.

A Taliban delegation led by Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of the group, too left for Uzbekistan to participate in the Tashkent Summit. The Taliban delegation will lobby for more support from the participating countries of the summit. On the other hand, Central Asian countries are expected to share their national security concerns emanating from Afghanistan with the Taliban officials.

Gul Mohammad Geran, the news manager of Salam Watandar Radio, said that Alauddin Erkin, a provincial reporter of the radio station, had been detained by the Taliban for two hours on Monday.

Geran said that Erkin had been detained as the result of a “misunderstanding”.

Media watchdog groups said that the Taliban have imposed severe pressure on journalists and restricted freedom of expression ever since it came to power last year.

In the latest case on Friday, July 24, the Taliban beat Selgai Ehsas, a local female journalist in Nangarhar province.

Markus Potzel said that they discussed “a wide range of issues including the importance of inclusive representation and decision making”.

Potzel had been recently appointed as the acting head of UNAMA and UN Sec Gen deputy special representative in Afghanistan. The German diplomat, who has worked in Afghanistan for many years, travelled to Nangarhar and Khost province too.

During his trip to Khost province, he met Sirajuddin Haqqani, Taliban’s acting minister of interior and representatives of local leaders from earthquake-affected areas.