Afghanistan Foreign Minister Urges U.S. to Reopen Embassy

Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi called on the United States to reopen its embassy in Kabul and invest in the country's roads, dams, and mineral wealth. In an interview, Muttaqi stated that the "chapter of war" has ended and proposed a new era of positive engagement based on mutual respect.

The United States Department of State rejected the prospect of normalization. The agency asserted that the Taliban had failed to make Afghanistan more stable and uphold counterterrorism commitments, instead allowing terrorist groups to use the country as a launchpad for attacks.

While the Taliban-led government has secured trade agreements with Central Asian neighbors and negotiated migration deals with European countries, it remains a pariah state. Tensions persist as the Taliban refuse U.S. requests for the release of a U.S. prisoner, the return of abandoned weapons, and access to Bagram Air Base.