OMM Redaksiyası
Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban is seeking to establish new relations with the United States. The group wants those ties to be based on diplomacy, investment and trade.
A total of 2,977 people were killed in the attacks in the United States. They were carried out by Al-Qaeda, whose leadership, including Osama bin Laden, was based in Afghanistan under Taliban protection at the time.
The United States intervened in Afghanistan several weeks after the attacks and overthrew the Taliban government. The conflict lasted 20 years, and the group returned to power in August 2021 as the last US troops withdrew from the country.
Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said relations with Washington should not be assessed solely through the lens of the conflict of the past two decades. He invited US investors to invest in mining, infrastructure, agriculture and trade.
Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told AnewZ that the Taliban’s desire to establish ties with Washington was not a new position for the group. According to him, the “Islamic Emirate” had sought to develop positive relations with all countries, including the United States, since 1996 and had conducted several official visits before 2001.
Balkhi stressed that they wanted relations to be based on common interests and economic development. He said there was no connection between Afghanistan and the Sept. 11 attacks: “Afghanistan and Afghan citizens had no involvement in the events of Sept. 11.”
Washington maintains cautious stance
The United States does not recognize the Taliban government and continues to express concern over human rights, as well as restrictions imposed on women and girls. Russia remains the only country to have formally recognized the Taliban government.
Political analyst and lecturer Obaidullah Bahir said US policy toward Afghanistan was heavily influenced by security concerns. In his view, Washington still approaches Afghanistan primarily through the lens of the Sept. 11 attacks and security.
Although Kabul is placing greater emphasis on trade, investment and diplomatic ties, security and human rights remain key obstacles to deeper relations for Washington. Thus, 25 years after the Sept. 11 attacks, relations between former adversaries have shifted from the battlefield toward diplomacy, but disagreements over security, rights and recognition remain.
