Afghanistan Makes Independent Decisions, Says Taliban Official

Zakir Jalali, an official from the Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, "Afghanistan is no longer an issue."

He asserted that, like other countries, particularly those in the region, Afghanistan under Taliban control has its own issues and is actively seeking solutions.

Jalali mentioned that the Taliban makes decisions independently based on its foreign policy priorities. Notably, the Taliban did not participate in the contact group meeting in Tehran. During this meeting, the Iranian representative urged the Taliban to form a government inclusive of various social groups due to the ongoing severe crisis.

On Saturday, Jalali wrote on his X social media platform, "Today, Afghanistan is an actor that, like any other country, makes independent decisions based on its own assessments, calculations, and foreign policy priorities."

Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, commented on the absence of Taliban representatives at the Tehran meeting, saying, "They made their own decision." Qomi emphasised that the recommendation to form an inclusive government in Afghanistan does not imply interference in the country's affairs.