Taliban talks to Malaysia, Indonesia, other far-off Muslim-majority nations, ‘to create engagement perception’, say analysts

Group, which returned to power in Afghanistan last year, has not been officially recognised by any government but seeks international recognition

However, Taliban diplomats have already been accepted in several nations, including Pakistan and Iran, both Muslim, and Russia and China

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A Taliban fighter keeps a watch in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Province earlier this month. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:15pm, 25 Jul 2022

The Taliban is reaching out to Muslim-majority nations far from Afghanistan, like Malaysia and Indonesia, to create the perception that an increasing number of countries are interested in engaging with the regime to “strengthen their case for international recognition”, say analysts.

On Sunday, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met Malaysia’s special adviser on Afghanistan, Ahmad Azam Abdul Rahman, to discuss banking, education, bilateral cooperation and scholarships for Afghan students, said the Kabul-based Tolo news channel.

On the same day, the Taliban’s Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, wanted by the FBI for questioning in relation to a 2008 attack on a Kabul hotel that killed six people, called on the global community to recognise its legitimacy as the official government in the country.

Malaysia’s foreign ministry was approached for a comment about the recent visit to Afghanistan. In February, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said a humanitarian mission to Kabul was not to recognise the Taliban but to ensure Afghans were helped.