Blankets, coats, essential goods: China sends 1st batch of aid to 'Taliban govt' in Afghanistan

By Gargi Chaudhry | First Published Sep 30, 2021, 8:35 PM IST

The Chinese-donated goods, which landed at Kabul International Airport on Wednesday night, have been turned over to the Afghan side, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

China has sent the first batch of its USD 31 million humanitarian assistance, including emergency goods like blankets and jackets, to Afghanistan's temporary Taliban administration. The Chinese-donated goods, which landed at Kabul International Airport on Wednesday night, have been turned over to the Afghan side, according to state-run Xinhua news agency.

The transfer ceremony at the airport was attended by China's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Wang Yu, and the Afghan caretaker government's Acting Minister of Refugee Affairs, Khalil-ur-Rehman Haqqani. Wang stated that, despite several challenges, China was able to organise essential humanitarian relief items for Afghanistan in a short period of time, including blankets, down coats, and other winter necessities desperately needed by the Afghan people.

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He stated that China would continue to prepare for additional items, such as food aid, scheduled to come soon. Haqqani expressed gratitude to China for delivering emergency supplies. Haqqani described China as a good neighbour and friend of Afghanistan and expressed optimism that China might give further support in the future, according to the state-run China Global Television Network (CGTN-TV). Afghanistan, which is facing severe economic and livelihood challenges, urgently requires foreign help in various sectors, he added.

In an apparent allusion to the Taliban's vow to create an inclusive government and not allow foreign militant organisations to operate from Afghan soil, Haqqani stated that Afghanistan would honour its obligations to its neighbours and the international community. China, like the rest of the world, has yet to recognise the Taliban's temporary administration. However, Iran has maintained its embassy in Kabul open, along with Pakistan and Russia. In contrast, other nations' posts have been closed since an Afghan terrorist group took control of the war-torn country last month.

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On September 21-22, special envoys from China, Russia, and Pakistan met with top Taliban temporary government officials and former Afghan leaders Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul to discuss the creation of an inclusive administration, combatting terrorism, and the humanitarian crisis. The Taliban marched through Afghanistan last month, gaining control of nearly all major towns and cities against the backdrop of the US troop pullout, which began on May 1. Kabul, the capital city, fell to the Taliban on August 15. On September 6, the Taliban declared victory over opposition forces in the final holdout province of Panjshir, completing their three-week takeover of Afghanistan.

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