Government Considers Normalizing Relations with Taliban

jpnn.com, JAKARTA - The government is considering reactivate the Indonesian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, in an effort to take a constructive approach with the country now controlled by the Taliban group.

Previously, the Indonesian mission in Kabul was run temporarily from Islamabad, Pakistan, following the takeover of the Afghan government by the Taliban in August.

"The goal [of reopening the Indonesian Embassy in Kabul] is to carry out constructive engagement, especially in the context of humanitarian assistance, including assistance for women, scholarships, and others," said Director General of Asia Pacific and Africa at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Kadir Jailani, during a media gathering in Jakarta, Monday.

However, Kadir emphasized that the plan to reopen the Indonesian Embassy in Kabul did not mean that Indonesia recognized the Taliban government.

According to him, Indonesia will continue to monitor the extent to which the Taliban are implementing their commitment to a more inclusive government in Afghanistan, especially regarding respect for the rights of women and children and countering terrorism.

"We hope that the Taliban government can fully maintain its commitment not to allow its country to become a homegrown of terrorism," said Kadir.

Furthermore, he explained that Indonesia continued to strive to help the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, which is currently being exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the winter season, which makes providing sufficient food for local residents a challenge in itself.

The efforts made by Indonesia, apart from directly distributing humanitarian aid, are encouraging meetings between foreign ministers on the issue of Afghanistan.