A business lounge has emerged at Kabul International Airport, reflecting efforts to enhance facilities in the war-torn nation, Sputnik Afghanistan reported. However, the move raises eyebrows, given the Taliban's UN-sanctioned status for terrorist activities.
The business lounge, situated in one of the domestic flight terminal halls, is a joint initiative between the Taliban Ministry of Transport and the mobile operator AWCC. The agreement aims to provide Wi-Fi services, offering a semblance of modern amenities to travelers. The move comes as part of broader efforts to improve the first impressions of foreigners and returning compatriots arriving in the country, as per Deputy Head of the Ministry of Transport, Ghulam Jilani Wafa.
Wafa emphasized the significance of airports as the first point of contact for visitors, underscoring the need for attention to their arrangements. Additionally, construction has begun on a new gate at the airport, with an estimated cost of $50,000 and a targeted completion time of six months.
The Taliban, originally founded in 1986-1987, ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and returned to power in 2021 after the withdrawal of U.S. troops. The organization remains under UN sanctions for its past terrorist activities.
Earlier Daryo reported that Kazakhstan has decided to exclude the Taliban from its list of banned organizations, citing UN resolutions. Aibek Smadiarov, the official representative of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained that this decision aligns with UN Security Council resolutions, indicating that the Taliban is not currently recognized as a terrorist organization by the Council.
Furthermore in September 2023, the Taliban extended a warm welcome to China’s new ambassador to Afghanistan, Zhao Sheng. This marked a notable departure from the diplomatic norm, as it was the first time since the Taliban's takeover in 2021 that an ambassador received such a lavish protocol. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi hailed the nomination of Zhao Sheng as a “significant step with a significant message,” signaling a desire for other nations to establish relations with the Taliban-led government.
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