Malaysia not opening office in Afghanistan, clarifies Wisma Putra
Wisma Putra’s special adviser on Afghanistan, Ahmad Azam Ab Rahman, meeting Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Kabul. (Twitter pic)
PETALING JAYA: Wisma Putra has clarified that the government is not opening an office in Afghanistan.
In a post on Twitter yesterday, Afghanistan foreign ministry spokesman, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, said its acting foreign minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, met with Wisma Putra’s special adviser on Afghanistan, Ahmad Azam Ab Rahman, and that a flight carrying Malaysian assistance will arrive in Kabul on Wednesday.
Qahar also said “they would open an office in Kabul” to manage aid and economic cooperation, but did not provide more details.
Asked to comment, a foreign ministry spokesman said: “We can confirm that Ahmad Azam is in Kabul.
“The new office mentioned in the tweet was actually referring to the opening of a new office by Global Peace Mission (Ahmad Azam is GPM’s chair), not a Malaysian government office.”
The spokesman confirmed that Malaysia’s first batch of humanitarian assistance will leave the Subang airport tomorrow and arrive in Kabul on Wednesday.
In his tweets, Qahar said Muttaqi and Ahmad Azam also discussed enhancing relations, humanitarian aid, transparency and Islamic finance.
The opening of the GPM office comes after Malaysia’s special envoy to the Middle East, Abdul Hadi Awang, pledged to help the Afghan government with humanitarian and economic aid earlier this month.
Malaysia has not officially recognised the Taliban-run Afghan government, which came into power in August last year.
Last month, Putrajaya stated that it could only make an official stand on the Taliban administration once it is recognised by the likes of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
PETALING JAYA: Wisma Putra has clarified that the government is not opening an office in Afghanistan.
In a post on Twitter yesterday, Afghanistan foreign ministry spokesman, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, said its acting foreign minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, met with Wisma Putra’s special adviser on Afghanistan, Ahmad Azam Ab Rahman, and that a flight carrying Malaysian assistance will arrive in Kabul on Wednesday.
Qahar also said “they would open an office in Kabul” to manage aid and economic cooperation, but did not provide more details.
Asked to comment, a foreign ministry spokesman said: “We can confirm that Ahmad Azam is in Kabul.
“The new office mentioned in the tweet was actually referring to the opening of a new office by Global Peace Mission (Ahmad Azam is GPM’s chair), not a Malaysian government office.”
The spokesman confirmed that Malaysia’s first batch of humanitarian assistance will leave the Subang airport tomorrow and arrive in Kabul on Wednesday.
In his tweets, Qahar said Muttaqi and Ahmad Azam also discussed enhancing relations, humanitarian aid, transparency and Islamic finance.
The opening of the GPM office comes after Malaysia’s special envoy to the Middle East, Abdul Hadi Awang, pledged to help the Afghan government with humanitarian and economic aid earlier this month.
Malaysia has not officially recognised the Taliban-run Afghan government, which came into power in August last year.
Last month, Putrajaya stated that it could only make an official stand on the Taliban administration once it is recognised by the likes of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Russia and China never shut their embassies during the Taliban takeover, in fact declaring business as usual.
ReplyDeleteMalaysia just needs to declare that the Ambassador is returning after home leave...no need for difficult arguments over recognition.