The Associated Press was also informed by Amir Khan Muttaqi, Afghan Foreign Minister. He said that the Taliban government is open to good relations with all countries and does not have any issues with the United States. He called on Washington and other countries to release $10 billion of funds frozen by the Taliban when they took control of Afghanistan in August 15, after a swift military assault and the sudden secret escape of President Ashraf Ghani, who was U.S.-backed.

Muttaqi stated Sunday that sanctions against Afghanistan "would... not have any benefits", speaking in Pashto in the interview at the sprawling Foreign Ministry building made of pale bricks in Kabul's capital.

Muttaqi stated that "Making Afghanistan unstable is not in the interests of anyone." His aides also include former government employees and those who were recruited from the Taliban ranks.