Taliban spokesman says China plays positive role in fostering peace, reconciliation in Afghanistan
During a meeting with a Taliban group in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed optimism that Afghanistan would embrace a moderate Islamist policy.
FollowAccording to Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen, China has played a positive role in fostering peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and is welcome to assist in the country's reconstruction.
Terrorists from the Taliban took control over the weekend, sending thousands of residents and Afghan military allies fleeing for safety. Many people fear returning to the strict interpretation of Islamic law imposed during the last Taliban regime, which ended 20 years ago.
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In dealing with the Taliban, a more assertive China may exploit the fact that, unlike Russia and the US, it has not fought in Afghanistan.
In an interview with the media, Shaheen said China has a vast economy and capacity. He said he feels that ta huge play a very big role in the rebuilding, rehabilitation, reconstruction of Afghanistan.
During a meeting with a Taliban group in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed optimism that Afghanistan would embrace a moderate Islamist policy.
China has long feared that Taliban-controlled territory will be used to harbour separatist troops in its western Xinjiang province, citing Islamic fanaticism as a destabilising influence.
Following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, China declared that it is willing to establish "friendly ties" with the extremist group earlier this week. In a statement to the media, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying stated, "China respects the Afghan people's freedom to chose their destiny and is ready to continue building... friendly and cooperative ties with Afghanistan."
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She went on to add that China respects the Afghan people's right to determine their destiny and is willing to preserve friendly and productive relations with Afghanistan. The spokesperson also encouraged the Taliban to "ensure a peaceful handover of power" and keep its promises to create an "open and inclusive" government.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India is collaborating with international allies, namely the United States, to bring trapped Indian people home from strife-torn Afghanistan. Jaishankar made the remarks while speaking to media at the UN Security Council stake-out after chairing the Security Council briefing on "Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts," conducted under India's current Presidency of the Council.
