Kabul achieves its objective in border skirmish against Pakistan: Muttaqi

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Monday said Afghanistan achieved its objective in the border skirmish against Pakistan and stopped the attack at the request of Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Replying to media queries, the visiting minister said Afghanistan retaliated to Pakistani aggression on the border, and objectives were achieved. "During the operation, our friendly countries, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE, requested that the war should stop, and we agreed," Muttaqi said.

Muttaqi further said that India should engage with the US for lifting sanctions on the Chabahar port. Speaking at an interactive session with the industry representatives in New Delhi, he asserted that it is in favour of the optimum utilisation of the strategically located port. He also pitched for more visas to be issued by India for increased trade, medical tourism and people-to-people exchange. He also made a case for Afghanistan to be invited to participate in trade fairs and exhibitions held in India, and invited Indian businesses to invest in Afghanistan in sectors like mining, power generation, and agriculture.