Taliban Foreign Minister Urges Diplomatic Caution Amid UN Engagement Talks and Activist Criticism

Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi urged members to avoid inflammatory public statements about neighboring countries and the international community during a graduation ceremony at the Taliban-run Institute of Diplomacy in Kabul. He emphasized cautious diplomacy to protect Afghanistan’s sovereignty and avoid undermining the Taliban’s authority.

The Taliban government, which remains internationally unrecognized nearly four years after taking power, has pursued working ties with regional states. The UN’s ongoing “Mosaic” initiative proposes international engagement in exchange for Taliban commitments on human rights, counter-terrorism, and inclusive governance. Discussions include unfreezing Afghan central bank assets, lifting sanctions, and diplomatic representation disputes.

Women’s rights activists, including Maria Noori, criticize the exclusion of non-Taliban voices, particularly women and civil society, from negotiations.

Sources: Statements by Amir Khan Muttaqi, UN process details, and activist critiques.