Afghan Envoy Warns of Taliban Rule’s Regional Risks Ahead of Islamabad Meeting

Kokcha News Agency: On the eve of the meeting of Afghan political groups in Islamabad, Nasir Ahmad Andisha, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Geneva and a participant in the event, raised concerns about the consequences of prolonged Taliban rule, stating it could transform the region into a center for global terrorism and extremism.

The meeting, which has been postponed three times, is set to take place on Sunday, October 7, in Islamabad. Andisha, in a post on social media platform X, highlighted the historical ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan, suggesting that past experiences could offer lessons for cooperation, mutual respect, and regional stability.

He wrote, “A chapter based on support for inclusive participation, democratic governance, free trade, transit, and mutual respect could pave the way for a brighter future.” However, Andisha warned that the continued dominance of the Taliban in Afghanistan would lead to increased migration and the spread of violent extremism.

The two-day meeting, organized by “Women for Afghanistan” and the “Institute of Strategic Stability in South Asia,” will take place on Monday and Tuesday, October 7 and 8. The Taliban has previously opposed the event, with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the group’s foreign minister, expressing concerns to Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar over the invitation of Afghan opposition figures to the Islamabad conference.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. envoy for Afghanistan, also criticized the meeting, calling Pakistan’s move “irresponsible and regrettable.”