KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 — Malaysia is currently in contact with the Afghanistan government to help them create a country that provides for human rights to all its citizens, including in terms of democratic practices and rights of women, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar said Malaysia had officially established close ties with Afghanistan and had helped the government and the country for more than 20 years.
“On the (new) Taliban administration in Afghanistan, we have established contact with them through certain channels. Last September, for example, a delegation from the Global Peace Mission Malaysia visited Afghanistan and met with the Taliban leaders.
“And through our embassy, especially in Qatar, we have a channel of communication with the current Afghan government to ensure that they will succeed in creating a country that gives human rights to all its citizens.”
He said this in reply to Datuk Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus (PH-Hulu Langat) on Malaysia’s roles in helping the Taliban which was deemed a terrorist organisation by the world community.
Meanwhile, in reply to a supplementary question from Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PAS-Pasir Mas) on whether Malaysia would emulate Turkey, Italy and Germany which were reported as planning to open their embassies in the conflict-stricken country, Kamarudin said Malaysia’s diplomatic relations with Afghanistan was through the High Commissioner in New Delhi, India which was also accredited to Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, he said the government was of the view that the withdrawal of United States (US) troops from Afghanistan was not a major factor in the change in foreign policy in the Southeast Asian region.
Instead, he said the US foreign policy had mostly been influenced by the current administration led by President Joe Biden.
“The government believes that more active participation of the US in the region is important in terms of diplomacy, politics and economy, and at the same time, bringing geopolitical challenges to the region.
“In facing this situation, the government will continue to take a pragmatic approach and maintain good relations and cooperation with all countries, including the US.
This is to ensure that Malaysia will fully benefit from each cooperation forged,” he said when replying to the original question from Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub (PH-Pulai) on the government’s preparedness to face any possibilities of changes in the US foreign policy, following the complete withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan, especially its geopolitical impact on the Southeast Asian region.
Sources: BERNAMA