UN sanctions extension sends negative signal to Taliban, says Miakhil

KABUL: Shah Mahmood Miakhil has described the extension of the United Nations sanctions committee’s mandate against the Taliban as “negative signals” for the group. The Deputy Minister of Defense of the fallen republic has stated that regional countries’ interactions with the Taliban are fundamentally negative, and while these actions aim to address concerns, they ultimately harm the Afghan people. Miakhil expressed his belief that Afghanistan currently does not hold priority for the world. He emphasized that to lift Afghanistan from this situation, conditions for popular legitimacy must be established within the country in order to create a legitimate and lawful government; otherwise, Afghanistan will remain isolated. This comes amid the UN Security Council’s decision to extend sanctions against the Taliban. In response, the Taliban have stated that the imposition of sanctions is a failed experience. The group has called on the world, especially the West, to pursue a path of engagement with them.