World should formally interact with Afghanistan: Muttaqi

KABUL (Pajhwok): Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mottaqi on Sunday said freezing of Afghanistan assets by the United States had forced the country to rely on emergency aid and cash, and that Afghanistan, as a sovereign state, had the right to formally interact with the world.

He expressed the view addressing an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Islamabad.

In addition to 70 member states and organizations, representatives from the United States, Russia, China, Germany and the European Union also attended today’s OIC meeting on Afghanistan hosted by Pakistan.

“As a representative and responsible government of the Afghan people, we consider it our responsibility to ensure human rights, women’s rights and participation of all walks of life in the government,” Muttaqi told the summit.

He added now there were good opportunities for foreign investors in Afghanistan and the government would assure them necessary facilities and security.

Mottaqi said the 43-year-old war ended with the establishment of “Islamic Emirate” in Afghanistan, with the war casualties reducing to zero.

He said prisons were emptied of political prisoners, government institutions were restored in a short time. He said five hundred thousand employees go to work as before and no one is discriminated against or retaliated against.

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