Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), has said that European countries are interested in formal engagement with the IEA, but they are held back by US policies.

Speaking in an interview with national broadcaster RTA, Mujahid said that the Islamic Emirate has managed to expand its relations with neighboring countries, the region and beyond, and it has no preconditions for establishing relations with the world.

“All the European countries are interested, but they have agreements with America or they have some sensitivities. Therefore, they will look at the forehead of America. Some countries have formal relations with us, but they do not announce it. They also have their own sensitivities. We should not force them. The main thing is that this problem will be solved slowly,” Mujahid said.

He also rejected US President Donald Trump’s call for return of military equipment left in Afghanistan and his claim that the Bagram airfield is now controlled by China.

“The Islamic Emirate has seized the weapons given to former administration as spoils. With these weapons, we protect our country and prevent them from acting against us. So they should not speak emotionally and without having information. I wish that Trump’s team would make him understand and make him have correct information about Afghanistan. Now he claims that Bagram is in the hands of the Chinese. But Bagram is currently in the hands of the forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. No Chinese armed person is present here,” Mujahid said.

Regarding the military planes and helicopters transferred to Uzbekistan, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate said that in the negotiations with Uzbekistan, they have repeatedly requested that these planes be returned to Afghanistan.

“We have repeatedly insisted during official meetings with Uzbekistan that the helicopters belong to Afghanistan, it should be handed over to us. There may be pressure from America on this country. In any case, we still want Afghanistan’s property to be handed over to Afghanistan,” Mujahid said.

He also stated that the Islamic Emirate is committed to the management of the waters of the country and that the Qosh Tepa canal will not harm any other country, rather, Afghanistan will receive its share of water from Amu River.

The Qatar government has called on the international community to mobilise financial and technical resources to expand the humanitarian response in Afghanistan and ensure a decent life for the Afghan people.

Attending an interactive dialogue in Geneva on Friday with the UN’s Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Qatar’s third secretary for human rights at the foreign ministry, Mishal Al Mansouri, highlighted that achieving lasting peace and sustainable development are key factors to improve the situation in Afghanistan.

Al Mansouri underscored Qatar’s continued commitment as an effective international partner, through mediation efforts and by hosting the three meetings of the special envoys on Afghanistan under the auspices of the United Nations, and enhancing international consensus on many important issues, in addition to continuing to provide humanitarian and developmental support to alleviate the human suffering of the Afghan people.

He stressed Qatar’s keenness on incorporating issues related to human rights in the discussions, particularly supporting and enhancing the participation of Afghan women in the peace-making and building process and ensuring their right to education and equal employment opportunities.

Al Mansouri pointed out that under Qatar Fund for Development’s (QFFD) Women in Conflict Zones initiative, QFFD signed, last December, phase two of an agreement to support the livelihoods of weavers and craftspeople in Afghanistan, which aims to empower Afghan women economically and enable them to withstand crises.

He added that in October 2024, the State of Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding with the Republic of Indonesia to provide scholarships to a number of Afghan students to study in Indonesia, which contributes to enabling young Afghan men and women to build a brighter and more prosperous future.

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing on Friday to discuss enhancing security cooperation, Afghanistan, and regional and Middle Eastern issues. The meeting also focused on the future of strategic security talks between China and Russia.

According to the report, both sides agreed to hold a new round of strategic security talks at an appropriate time, Xinhua news agency reported.
However, the details of the discussion about Afghanistan were not revealed.

Both Russia and China, like many other countries, have not formally recognized the Islamic Emirate government, but they maintain extensive diplomatic and economic relations with the IEA.

In December 2023, Sergei Shoigu visited Kabul, where he met separately with the deputy economic and political chiefs of the IEA, as well as the ministers of defense and interior.

Shoigu also had a separate meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his trip to China, Xinhua reported.

Russian news agencies have reported that Moscow and Beijing align on various international issues. Shoigu mentioned that the two countries enjoy a high level of mutual political and strategic trust and are not influenced by external factors.

This meeting between Shoigu and Wang Yi reflects the growing strategic partnership between Russia and China, particularly in matters of regional security and diplomacy.
Their collaboration on Afghanistan highlights the importance of maintaining diplomatic engagement despite not recognizing the IEA government.

As both countries seek to strengthen their global influence, continued dialogue and cooperation will be key in addressing issues related to security and political stability in Afghanistan and the broader region.

Their shared approach to international challenges may play a significant role in shaping future geopolitical dynamics.