Taliban seeks international aid for Afghanistan's reconstruction

A senior Taliban diplomat urged the international community to aid Afghanistan's recovery during a meeting in Kabul on Sunday, emphasizing the destruction caused by decades of conflict.

Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Shir Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai called on the United Nations and international NGOs to provide support to Afghanistan in the form of technical assistance, economic development initiatives and agricultural cooperation.

He particularly addressed countries that were previously militarily involved in Afghanistan, claiming they have a moral obligation to help rebuild the country based on the Doha Agreement.

Stanekzai indirectly pointed to NATO countries that participated in US-led operations, claiming that for 20 years these countries bombed Afghanistan and conducted military missions that led to fatalities and destruction of the country.

"Cooperate with Afghanistan in all fields, especially in politics, economy, agriculture and medicine, so that Afghanistan reaches self-sufficiency," he said.

The US and the Taliban signed a peace agreement in Doha that led to the ending of the US occupation of Afghanistan and the subsequent return to power of the Taliban in August 2021.

Since then, the Taliban government has been seeking international recognition and aid, while also facing criticism over its governance practices. As a result, no country has officially recognized the Taliban government yet.

The Taliban has banned girls and women from studying beyond primary school. However, in some parts of the country, women and girls still attend religious schools, as well as midwifery, dentistry and nursing schools.

The Taliban authorities originally said the ban was a "temporary suspension" that will be resolved after the establishment of a safe environment for girls to attend school, but no changes have been made so far.

Some Taliban officials, including Stanekzai, have expressed support for the reopening of schools for girls, but there has been no progress on this front.

"As we defeated the two superpowers of the world during the past 40 years and made our country free ... today, the next stage of our jihad is the progress and prosperity of our country. Yesterday, we waged armed jihad, today, we wage economic, scientific and political jihad," Stanekzai said at the meeting.