JakartaPost-Aug 29, 2022
A year after the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic policy with Kabul remains unchanged, insisting that Indonesia continue to give humanitarian assistance to Afghan people for the time being. The ministry underlined that they do not recognize the hard-line Islamist movement as legitimate rulers of the country. In mid-August last year, the United States’ botched exit from Afghanistan gave room for militant Taliban forces to take over Kabul in a dramatic unfolding of events that led to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The offensive is estimated to have caused at least 4,000 deaths and over 1,000 people missing as well as imposing severe restrictions on human rights. One month after the event, when it was apparent that the Taliban had prevailed, Indonesia in a joint statement condemned the militant group, describing its actions as an “evil and calculated terrorist attack” and calling for “strengthened efforts to provide humanitarian assistance” in the country. At the end of last year, the Foreign Ministry provided aid worth US$3 million for the Afghan people, of which $150,000 was allocated for humanitarian relief and the rest for supporting Kabul’s development — particularly in the mining, health, education and women’s empowerment sectors. A year later, after seemingly little to no progress, the Foreign Ministry insists that it will stick to its Afghanistan strategy, which prioritizes three issues: an inclusive government; respect for women, minorities and human rights; as well as the curbing of terrorist activities in the region. “So far, Indonesia’s policy [for Afghanistan] is largely unchanged,” said the ministry’s spokesperson, Teuku Faizasyah at a press briefing on Thursday. Read more at:
https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2022/08/28/ris-taliban-policy-remains-unchanged.html.
