KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s official stand on the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan will be decided at the weekly Cabinet meeting, says Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.

       He added that Malaysia is engaging with all relevant stakeholders, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and humanitarian groups in Afghanistan to seek their views and feedback on the issue in the country.

       He said for now, Malaysia is taking a cautious approach in deciding its official stand on the Taliban takeover, adding that the issue will be discussed to seek the advice at the Cabinet meeting on Friday so that a concrete decision can be made.

       “I will call Qatar Foreign Minister (Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani) and secretary general of OIC (Yousef Al-Othaimeen) to seek their advice and opinion concerning the affairs in Afghanistan,” he said after a working visit to The South-East Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism here yesterday.

       The Taliban entered Kabul on Aug 15 and took control of Afghanistan for the first time in almost 20 years as US troops withdrew from the country.

       Saifuddin said Malaysia is monitoring the situation through various channels, including through the Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi.

       On the status of Afghan ambassador in Malaysia Dr Moheb Rahman Spin Ghar, Saifuddin said the diplomat was an appointee of the former Afghan government and he was not recalled.

       He also said the Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi is constantly in touch with two Malaysians in Afghanistan who are working for an international humanitarian organisation in Kabul. — Bernama