Islamabad: Pakistan’s foreign minister said the international community was not in a hurry to recognize the Taliban government, although it has a desire to engage with it.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke at a joint news conference after holding talks with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares in the capital, Islamabad.
Qureshi said that he had come to this belief after having meetings with diplomats from various countries. He said that “people are watching, they are waiting, they are looking at the unfolding events of Afghanistan.’’
Qureshi said: “I see a desire to engage but not a rush to recognize’’ the Taliban.
In his remarks, Albares said Spain wants to see a stable and peaceful Afghanistan.
He also said Spain wanted safe transit for those who wanted to leave Afghanistan to travel to Spain.
Albares also expressed concern over human rights and the treatment of women in Afghanistan.
“In these very moments there is concern, I cannot hide that about the situation of women and human rights and freedom of movement in Afghanistan,” he said.
“I can assure you that women rights and human rights are always important for us in any region in the world,” he said.
Since the Taliban took over on August 15, several street protests led by women have been broken up.
People have been detained and beaten. The Taliban have promised to investigate the incidents.
This time the Taliban have tried to present a conciliatory face. Both the foreign ministers said they had prove this to the world through their deeds.
For that reason, Qureshi said, foreign governments were holding back on recognising the Taliban administration formed on September 7.
Albares asked for Pakistan’s cooperation to secure a safe passage for all those who had worked with Spanish forces or other organisations in Afghanistan during the 20-year Nato presence.
“We want those Afghan collaborators that worked with different Spanish institutions throughout these years to be able to peacefully leave the country they wish and come to Spain,” he said.
Spain says it has already evacuated more than 2,200 people from Afghanistan, most of them Afghans at risk of reprisals from the new Taliban rulers.
Spain sent 27,000 troops to Afghanistan over almost 20 years of involvement in the conflict, and 102 of its soldiers were killed there.
