Acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi urged international community to lobby US for removal of sanctions on the incumbent Afghan government.  

He made the call in a meeting with the ambassadors and envoys of 14 countries late Wednesday in Doha capital of Qatar.  

“At the outset, Minister Muttaqi elaborated on the new Islamic government, ensuring security, ties with the international community, economic situation, sanctions imposed on Afghanistan, and elimination of corruption,” said Abdul Qahar Balkhi, foreign ministry’s spokesman. “Afghanistan is witnessing a dominant government in 40 years, therefore the international community should call on the US to remove sanctions on the Afghan people’s national wealth," Muttaqi added.  

Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, Zabiullah Mujahid quoted Muttaqi as saying that the new Afghan government “as a responsible government” fulfilled all of the conditions and that it should be recognized.  

Prior to the meeting with the 14 nations’ ambassador- most of them the European countries- acting foreign minister held a separate meeting with Markus Potzel, German Ambassador-designate to Afghanistan.  

“Met de facto acting Taliban FM (Amir Khan) Muttaqi in Doha. We spoke about ongoing efforts to mitigate humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan,” Potzel has said on Twitter. “I reiterated importance of respect for human rights, esp. women’s rights, safe passage & freedom of movement and unrestricted humanitarian access.”