Ahmad Massoud urged Pakistan and China to refrain from officially recognizing the Taliban* government.
DUSHANBE, March 30 - Sangar, Firdavs Nizam. Afghanistan's neighboring countries will hold a conference in Beijing on March 31.
The official email version of the letter that made it to Sangar's website was written to Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureishi and written by Ahmad Masood, leader of the Afghan National Resistance Front.
Sibgathullah Ahmadi, a spokesman for the National Resistance Front, confirmed such a letter had been sent signed by Ahmad Massoud, calling on Pakistan to reconsider its cooperation with the Taliban.
“The same letter was also sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China through diplomatic channels,” said Sibgatullah Ahmadi.
Ahmad Massoud writes in his letter that Islamabad will increase threats to its security by formally recognizing the Taliban.
“The Taliban have a special relationship with regional terrorist groups and organizations, including terrorist groups operating in Pakistan. As we have seen, unfortunately, terrorist attacks in Pakistan have increased since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, the morale of terrorist groups has risen and the region is facing a serious threat to its security. On the other hand, the behavior of the Taliban in what they say at international meetings and forums is completely inconsistent. The group has no commitment to universal human values and good relations with neighbors in the region,” the letter says.
Ahmad Massoud's letter strongly criticizes the actions of the Taliban since coming to power, such as the killing of innocent people, soldiers, and former military personnel, the torture of civil society activists, the detention and repression of journalists, the restriction of the media, and also warns of the rise of regional and international terrorist groups in Afghanistan with the direct support of the Taliban.
The NRFA leader specifically mentions the Taliban-inspired ISIL* and Tahrike Taliban Pakistan*, whose smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people has reached its peak, posing a common threat to the region, including Pakistan.
In this letter, emphasizing the commonality of the peoples of Afghanistan and Pakistan, it is said that only good neighborly relations can make the future of relations between the two countries favorable and profitable.
Finally, Ahmad Massoud, speaking about the meeting of Afghanistan's neighbors in China, called on Pakistan to support the Afghan people by not recognizing the Taliban government.
The third meeting of foreign ministers of neighboring Afghanistan - China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia will be held today, March 31 in the capital of China, Beijing.
*Organization is under UN sanctions for terrorist activities
