Bangladesh to join UN, EU in talks with Taliban

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam. Star file photo

Bangladesh has decided to join a dialogue, initiated by the United Nations and European Union, with the Taliban in the wake of a humanitarian crisis after it seized control of Afghanistan.

"The UN and EU have asked us if we want to be a part to the dialogue. We have agreed to it," Shahriar Alam, state minister for foreign affairs, told reporters at his ministry yesterday.

He said there is a humanitarian situation, including a food crisis, with hundreds of thousands of Afghans being displaced following the withdrawal of US forces and the Taliban's takeover on August 15.

On Tuesday, the Taliban formed an interim government after three weeks of negotiations within its factions.

Shahriar said Bangladesh will take its decision independently on the recognition of the new Afghan government when it will have a permanent one.

He said the Taliban has changed from what it was during its previous rule in 1996-2001, but how far it has really changed at the grassroots level is yet to be seen.

"We are watching the situation closely."

However, he said, as there is a huge humanitarian crisis, the Bangladesh government will be ready to extend support.

EU top diplomat Josep Borrell on August 17 called for a dialogue with the Taliban in Afghanistan to prevent the crises, but made clear that it doesn't mean international recognition.

"We have to get in touch with authorities in Kabul … whoever they are. The Taliban have won the war," he said, speaking after a video conference among EU foreign ministers.

"We'll have to talk to them in order to engage in a dialogue, as soon as necessary, to prevent a humanitarian and potential migratory disaster."

He feared the situation in Afghanistan could trigger a migration crisis like the one in Syria in 2015.

Such a dialogue will also have to focus on the prevention of terrorist presence in Afghanistan, he added.

One of the conditions of the US withdrawal agreement with the Taliban was that Afghanistan would not be used as a land for terrorists attacking foreign countries.