“We attach great importance to our trade, economic and political relations with India and we want to maintain that relationship,” Stanekzai said on Saturday.
“We must also keep the air trade open,” the Pakistani media outlet Urdu was quoted as saying.
The Taliban leader was referring to the air corridor between India and Afghanistan that was set up to boost trade between the two countries in view of Pakistan’s refusal to allow access to traffic.
Stanekzai also described India as an “important country” in the region.
Without elaborating, he said Afghanistan’s trade with India through Pakistan is “very important”.
In his speech, the Taliban leader also referred to Afghanistan’s relations with Pakistan, China and Russia.
He said there are consultations between Taliban leaders and with different ethnic groups and political parties on the formation of an “inclusive government” in Kabul.
“Currently, the Taliban leadership is consulting with different ethnic groups, political parties and within the Islamic Emirate on the formation of a government that must be accepted both inside and outside Afghanistan and be recognized,” Stanekzai said. , according to Tolo News.
After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, India has focused on the evacuation of its citizens, while closely monitoring developments in Kabul.
“The situation on the ground is uncertain. The main current concern is the safety and security of the people. Currently, there is a lack of clarity or lack of clarity about any entity that forms a government in Kabul,” the ministry said. Foreign Minister (MEA)) Spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on Friday when asked if India would recognize a Taliban regime.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla told leaders of various political parties on Thursday that India is committed to key stakeholders and regional countries over the Afghan crisis.
He also said India is taking a “wait-and-see” approach to see if the new waiver in Afghanistan will be solely a Taliban government or part of a power-sharing agreement with other Afghan leaders.
India has been one of the stakeholders in Afghanistan and has invested nearly $ 3 billion in carrying out about 500 projects across the country.
Stanekzai was part of a group of foreign cadets who received training at the prestigious Indian Military Academy in Dehradun in the early 1980s. He later left the Afghan army.