The Taliban government has invited the United States to invest in Afghanistan, including in mining, infrastructure, agriculture and trade, as Kabul seeks to improve relations with Washington.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told the Financial Times that Afghanistan would “absolutely” welcome US investment. He said relations between the two countries should be based on future cooperation rather than the two decades of war between them.
The Taliban’s proposal comes as the group seeks sanctions relief and the release of Afghan assets held abroad. Afghanistan is believed to have significant untapped mineral resources, which the Taliban says could provide opportunities for foreign investors.
However, Washington has rejected the proposal. A US State Department spokesperson said the United States has no plans to work with the Taliban on developing Afghanistan’s critical mineral resources, adding that Washington’s position towards the group has not changed.
The US government has also raised concerns that investment in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan could provide financial support to the group and contribute to what it described as repression of Afghans.
