What do you want India to do to restore friendly relations?
The least India can do is to stop treating the Afghan people and the Taliban as enemies. What have the Taliban done to the Indians to earn this enmity? We can consider forging mutually beneficial ties with India if it brings positive changes in its Afghanistan policy. It ought to realise that the Taliban are Afghans who represent the will of the Afghan people and that ignoring them is like ignoring the Afghan nation. The Taliban wants friendly ties with all countries, both Islamic and non-Islamic. With our neighbours, including India, we would like to have normal relations based on the policy of non-interference. Until now, India has been interfering in Afghanistan affairs. We want this interference to end. In fact, we will be waiting for signs that indicate a change of heart in New Delhi.
How do you respond to the Russian threat of a 'firm riposte' in case the Taliban invade CIS territory?
The Russian threat is unwarranted. It is based on an unfounded fear of an imaginary enemy. The Taliban have never said that they would invade the CIS. We have no territorial ambitions in the region and we have no desire to interfere in the affairs of other countries. But at the same time, we don't want other countries to interfere in Afghanistan. Such an action could provoke retaliation. Moreover, those worried about the rise of the Taliban must keep in mind that the Taliban and the Afghan people are more concerned about solving their own problems; rebuilding their own homeland. We have neither the time nor the resources to think of other countries. We would consider ourselves lucky if we can restore peace and provide a better life to our people.
Iran has expressed concern over the Taliban's military gains in northern Afghanistan. Is it possible to have friendly relations with Iran?
We expected Iran to seek friendly ties with the Taliban Islamic movement because it is an Islamic country. But we realised that Iran didn't practise what it preached. It was duplicity because all these years Iran has been blatantly interfering in Afghanistan. We have missed no opportunity to forge closer ties with Iran and there has been interaction between the two sides through an exchange of official visits. But efforts to reassure Iran of our good intentions and seek friendly ties have come to nought.
What about relations with Pakistan?
We were happy when Pakistan finally recognised the Taliban government even though we expected it to do so nine months ago. But we have no complaints against Pakistan because it had its constraints. As they say in Persian, "der ayad, drust ayad (it is never too late)."
