Reports by MARTIN CARVALHO, RAHIMY RAHIM and TARRENCE TAN
MALAYSIA will support peace efforts in Afghanistan but has yet to recognise the interim Taliban government, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah.
“Wisma Putra is continuing to monitor the latest development in Afghanistan after the Taliban took Kabul on Aug 15, 2021.
“I would like to state that until today, no country has recognised the interim Taliban government in Afghanistan, including its neighbours.
“As such, Malaysia is also observing the developments in Afghanistan,” he told Datuk Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (PH-Lumut) during Question Time.
Saifuddin said Malaysia would need to consider several factors before making a final decision on the issue.
“These include the Afghan people’s acceptance of the Taliban government. This is related to the issue of legitimacy,” he said, adding that another factor to be considered was that the interim Taliban government is missing key ethnics and representative of women in its administration.
“Malaysia believes the inclusivity aspects are important in order to achieve peace and lasting stability,” added Saifuddin.
Noting the worsening humanitarian crisis there, he said Malaysia had pledged to provide US$100,000 (RM418,000) of financial assistance to Afghanistan.
“This matter has been communicated during a high level meeting with the United Nations which was chaired by the UN secretary-general virtually regarding the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan on Sept 13,” he said.
Saifuddin also said there were two Malaysians currently in Afghanistan.
“Both of them are working with an international humanitarian organisation, which is the Norwegian Red Cross along with International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
“They have informed the Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi regarding their situation in Afghanistan and both of them are safe,” he said, adding that both of them wanted to remain there to carry out their work and services.