IEA hails Astana decision as a positive move

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has welcomed Kazakhstan’s decision on removing the Taliban movement from its list of “terrorist organisations” and urged other countries to follow suit.

“Kazakhstan has removed the Taliban from the list of terrorists, proceeding from the importance of developing trade and economic cooperation with present-day Afghanistan, taking into account that this regime is here to stay,” the Kazakh president said.

He announced the decision at a meeting with parliament speakers from the countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on Monday.

Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokesman for IEA, told Pajhwok Afghan News Kazakhstan’s move was crucial.

The development marked the entry of Kazakhstan and Afghanistan into a new phase of positive interaction, commented Mujahid, who believed barriers to the bilateral relationship had been removed.

“This step of Kazakhstan is commendable and we urge other countries to take similar measures and remove obstacle to interaction with IEA,” he commented.

Mujahid said IEA had been developing interaction with the world over the past three years and the caretaker government desired cooperative relations with all countries.

sa/mud