Officials from Germany, the Netherlands, and Iran have held discussions with Taliban leaders in Kabul this week on a range of issues, including on humanitarian assistance, amid the worsening crisis in Afghanistan. 

“The deputies of Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar today before noon met with representatives of the Netherlands and Germany and delegates accompanying them at the presidential palace,” said Inamullah Samangani, Taliban’s deputy spokesman said on Thursday. 

Separately, a senior delegation of Iran officials comprising officials from security and commerce sectors also visited Kabul and held deliberations with Taliban officials for improving trade and economic ties. 

In his meeting with western diplomats, Baradar once again stressed the need to release the country’s frozen assets and said these “belong to the people of Afghanistan and we want the international community to pay attention to the economic challenges in Afghanistan,” reported Ariana news. 

On humanitarian assistance, German envoy Markus Potzel said Germany would provide 600 million euros worth of aid to Afghanistan. The Taliban, which seized power in August, reiterated their commitment to not let Afghan soil be used against any other countries. They also said they would work with the international community to control drug smuggling from the country. 

The Iranian delegation has also held discussions with former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and stressed the need to form an inclusive government, representing all ethnic groups of the country. Iran and Russia, the key regional countries, continued to urge the Taliban to form an inclusive government. 

A statement released by the Taliban’s Ministry of Finance said that both Iran and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ( the name Taliban refers to their government) had formed several committees for promoting cooperation in multiple sectors, including trade and agriculture. 

“Most of our trade challenges were in Iran. When our traders are buying the goods, they are not processed on time, and visas are not issued on time,” Ahmad Wali Haqmal, who is a spokesman for the Taliban’s Ministry of Finance, was quoted as saying by Tolonews. 

Both countries also formed joint committees on joint infrastructure projects. 

(SAM)