RASC News Agency: Karen Decker, the U.S. Charge d’Affaires for Afghanistan, has emphasized that Afghanistan will not be forgotten in her recent discussions with Kazakh officials in Astana. The American envoy stated that Afghanistan remains a focal point for the United States and that it is neither appropriate nor likely for the country to be overlooked.
During her visit to Kazakhstan’s capital, Decker met with Alibek Bakayev, the country’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. In a post on her X account, she expressed her satisfaction with the exchange of views on shared security, economic, and social interests concerning Afghanistan. “I am pleased to discuss Afghanistan, and we must continue to engage on this issue and work towards improving the situation there,” Decker remarked.
Her statements come amidst repeated warnings from Afghanistan’s neighboring countries about the expansion of terrorism into other regions. These nations have expressed concerns that Afghanistan has become a breeding ground for terrorism, with potential for negative developments looming at any moment. Simultaneously, rival powers to the U.S. are increasingly aligning themselves with the Taliban, seeking influence over the group and potentially leveraging them against their adversaries. It seems the U.S. is unwilling to lose its foothold and alliances in Afghanistan, as the country continues to hold significant strategic importance.
The U.S. signed the Doha Agreement, effectively handing over control of Afghanistan to the Taliban while ensuring that the group does not act against American interests. So far, the Taliban has not deviated from these expectations, focusing instead on promoting positive narratives about their regime and engaging in propaganda campaigns against their opposition.
