Taliban Proposed US Return to Afghanistan

According to the Afghan diplomat, the discussion is solely about a civilian US presence in the country, without the return of American military personnel. The Taliban propose that Washington reopen its embassy, maintain diplomatic contacts, and invest in the development of mineral deposits, the construction of dams, and roads.

Muttaqi stated that "the chapter of war is closed," and now Afghanistan wants to build relations with the US based on mutual respect and "a new chapter of positive engagement." He also announced that Kabul is ready to open its diplomatic missions in the US.

The Taliban hope to emerge from international isolation this way. Over the past year, Afghanistan has intensified contacts with Russia, Central Asian countries, and Persian Gulf states, signed a number of trade agreements, and agreed on a defense partnership with Russia.

However, the US has not yet demonstrated readiness to normalize relations. The State Department stated that the Taliban have not ensured the necessary stability in the country and have not fulfilled their obligations to combat terrorism. Washington emphasizes that it interacts with the Taliban only when it serves US interests.

Over the past year, relations between the parties have even become more complicated. The US has grown closer to Pakistan, which previously launched airstrikes on Afghan territory, restricted visa issuance for Afghans, and prohibited their entry into the country. Additionally, the Taliban were added to the American list of organizations associated with the illegal detention of US citizens.

In turn, Kabul has not met several demands of US President Donald Trump. The Taliban refused to return control of Bagram Airfield to the US and did not agree to surrender the remaining American weaponry. They also did not release a US citizen who, according to their version, is not being held at all.

Meanwhile, experts believe that Afghanistan's economic potential could become an important factor for possible future cooperation with Washington. The country possesses significant, but as yet insufficiently developed, reserves of lithium, copper, iron ore, and rare earth metals. These resources are of strategic importance to the US.

From 2004-2021, Washington already spent nearly a billion dollars on the development of Afghanistan's mining industry, but this did not yield significant results. Currently, Kabul has agreements in this sector with companies from China, Iran, and Qatar.

At the same time, Western countries still do not recognize the Taliban government as the legitimate authority of Afghanistan. The country remains in international isolation, and the supreme leader of the movement, Haibatullah Akhundzada, is wanted under an International Criminal Court warrant in connection with accusations of persecuting Afghan women and girls.

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