ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s Taliban government has welcomed the joint stance taken by Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan, rejecting the establishment of foreign military bases in or around Afghanistan.
The position was articulated in a joint statement released after the foreign ministers of those four Asian countries met during the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, as cited by Dawn.
They reaffirmed their commitment to Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, declaring that foreign bases would be “not conducive to regional peace and security.”
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government, said that Afghanistan not only appreciated this position but would also ensure that no foreign military use of its territory is permitted, nor allow armed groups to launch operations from Afghan soil.
Although the statement did not name any specific country, it came in the wake of remarks by former US President Donald Trump that Washington was seeking to regain control of the Bagram air base in Afghanistan.
Once the cornerstone of US operations — used for air strikes and resupply missions — Bagram was abandoned by US and NATO forces in July 2021, marking the end of their presence at Afghanistan’s largest air base after two decades of war.
Trump had warned of unspecified consequences should Afghanistan refuse to cede control of the base, but the Taliban government dismissed his requests.
The joint statement also urged the Taliban authorities to take “effective, concrete and verifiable actions” to fulfil their international obligations concerning counter-terrorism — specifically to dismantle terrorist groups, hinder recruitment, block access to weapons, and shut down any infrastructure used by militant organisations.
They expressed concern about groups such as ISIL, Al Qaeda, the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish ul Adl, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and others, warning that these pose serious threats to regional and global security.
Fitrat dismissed suggestions that Afghanistan is a threat, calling them “baseless.” He stressed that the government is pursuing efforts against corruption, drugs, and other challenges, all part of its responsibility. He added that the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan wants to establish positive relations with all countries on the basis of mutual respect.”
He said Afghanistan’s policy is realistic and guided by mutual trust, friendly relations, and rejection of “false concerns or baseless allegations.”
Separately, a delegation from Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), led by Deputy Ameer Professor Muhammad Ibrahim, met with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during a recent visit to Afghanistan, according to a statement issued by the party.
The delegation also included JI Deputy Ameer for Balochistan Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman, JI Ameer for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North) Inayatullah Khan, JI Ameer for KP (Central) Abdul Wasi, and Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Khalil.
Following the meeting, Muttaqi shared a post on the social media platform X, noting that discussions focused on bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to a translated summary of his message.
