UK Will Engage With Taliban; Says No To Political Change Through Violence in Afghanistan

On Tuesday, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office in a statement announced that it does not support anyone seeking political change through violence in Afghanistan.

The UK foreign office stated that there is no alternative, but pragmatic engagement with the Taliban government and the British government is currently following this policy.

This is the first time that the UK has recognised the Taliban's rule as "Afghanistan’s administration” and sent a conciliatory message for the group.

It is not clear who and which organisation, the statement has targeted. However, the statement mentioned that no one is allowed to use UK’s territory to seek "political changes through violence" in Afghanistan or to plan, recruit for, incite or finance terrorism in Afghanistan.

Since the return of the Taliban to the power, several groups have initiated armed resistance against the Taliban. These groups have declared their intent to pursue this conflict until the beginning of political negotiations and the establishment of a legitimate government in Afghanistan.

The UK government’s statement added, “Political change sought through armed violence or incitement of violence that amounts to an offence in UK law can be subject to investigation.”

It added that any kind of violence is not in the interest of Afghanistan or the international community, and they deplore violent attacks of all kinds.

The Taliban has repeatedly expressed that western countries do not support the armed resistance against the group interpreting it as a sign of international acceptance of the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan.

Earlier, Tobias Ellwood, a British parliament member, called for engagement with the Taliban, which caused a controversy and led to his resignation.