Afghanistan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is currently on a week-long state visit to India, on Friday said that Kabul will not allow any foreign presence at the Bagram base.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Friday, Muttaqi said, “Afghanistan is a witness to the fact that we have never accepted any military there, and we certainly never will. We give you this advice: Afghanistan is a sovereign country, and it will remain so. If you want relations, you can engage through a diplomatic mission, but we do not accept anyone in military uniform.”
He also sought to allay security concerns, saying Afghanistan will not allow its land to be used against others. “And it remains committed to that policy that the territory of Afghanistan is not used to threaten others,” he added.
His remarks came in the backdrop of a joint statement signed by several countries, including India. “Attempts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighbouring states are ‘unacceptable,'” he said.
The Afghan Foreign Minister also invited India to invest in the country’s mining sector, which is believed to have large reserves of several precious metals, including rare earths.
Acknowledging Afghanistan’s offer, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said that “the invitation is deeply appreciated and that it can be discussed further.”
“We share a strong interest in boosting trade and commerce,” he added.