Taliban: Merkel would be especially welcome in Afghanistan – PRAVDA.sk

The militant Taliban movement, which took control of Afghanistan in mid-August, would be pleased with the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

In an interview with a German newspaper Picture, which was released on Monday, said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

Asked by journalist Paul Ronzheimer if Taliban officials would welcome a German chancellor’s visit to Afghanistan, Mujahid said: “Yes, of course. We want a completely secure environment here in Afghanistan – one that is accepted by all the countries of the world and that presidents and prime ministers will trust. They should visit us, and Angela Merkel would be particularly welcome. We would really be pleased. “

A spokesman for the fundamentalist movement also reiterated his call for Germany to continue to provide financial assistance to Afghanistan. “We want Germany to support and assist us in the humanitarian field, if the German government can,” he said. In addition, he said, Afghanistan needs help in health, education and also in infrastructure.

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A Taliban spokesman called on Afghan refugees in Germany to return to their homeland. “We want all Afghans who are abroad as refugees – especially in Germany – to return to their country,” he said.

At the same time, however, he admitted that those who had been expelled from Western countries back to Afghanistan for criminal activity were punished under Islamic law.

Mujahide had previously said in an interview with the Welt am Sonntag on Sunday that his movement wanted to establish official and intensive diplomatic relations with Germany.

Berlin is currently in informal contact with the Taliban, in particular to ensure that German citizens and Afghans who have worked with Germany leave the country. So far, however, Germany does not plan to officially recognize the new Afghan government, led by the Taliban, writes the merkur.de portal. Germany makes further funding for aid to Afghanistan conditional on respect for human rights in the country.