KABUL: The United States has rejected an offer by the Taliban to attract American investment in Afghanistan, saying Washington has no plans to cooperate with the Taliban in developing the country’s key mineral resources.
According to the US State Department, the Taliban remain designated by the United States as a terrorist organization.
The response came after Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said the Taliban would welcome American investment in mining, infrastructure, agriculture and trade.
However, a US State Department spokesperson told Voice of America that Washington does not intend to work with the Taliban on developing Afghanistan’s critical mineral resources.
US officials warned that American investment in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan could further strengthen restrictions and repression against Afghan citizens. The State Department spokesperson said revenue generated from US investment could end up in the hands of the Taliban and potentially help them continue their mistreatment of the Afghan people.
The spokesperson stressed that there has been no change in US policy toward the Taliban, adding that fundamental changes in the Taliban’s conduct, particularly regarding human rights, would be necessary for relations between the two sides to normalize.
Meanwhile, Muttaqi told the Financial Times that relations between Afghanistan and the United States should not be viewed solely through the lens of the two-decade war, but should instead focus on future cooperation.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid also said on Wednesday that the Taliban want good relations, diplomatic ties and economic engagement with all countries, including the United States.
Afghanistan is considered rich in mineral resources. During the previous Afghan government, the country’s mineral reserves were estimated to be worth at least $1 trillion. The country is believed to possess significant deposits of lithium, cobalt, niobium and other critical minerals.
