China vowed to keep Afghan embassy and increase humanitarian aid: Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen

Acceptance:

A Taliban spokesman said on Friday that China had promised to keep its embassy in Afghanistan open and to increase humanitarian aid to the war-torn country.

Abdul Salam Hanafi, a member of the Taliban’s political bureau in Doha, Qatar, “had a telephone conversation with Wu Jianghao, deputy foreign minister of the People’s Republic of China,” spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted.

“The Chinese Vice Foreign Minister said he will maintain his embassy in Kabul, adding that our relations will be strengthened compared to the past. Afghanistan can play an important role in the security and development of the region,” did he declare.

“China will also continue and increase its humanitarian aid, especially for the treatment of covid-19,” the spokesperson continued.

There was no immediate confirmation from Beijing.

Much of the world has taken a wait-and-see approach to engaging with the Taliban as they move from a ruling insurgent group to power.

But China has repeatedly criticized what it sees as a hasty and ill-planned withdrawal from Afghanistan by the United States and has said it is ready to deepen “friendly and cooperative” relations with the Taliban after their move. take over.

The Chinese embassy in Kabul remains operational, although Beijing began to evacuate Chinese citizens from the country months ago as security deteriorated.

But Beijing has yet to recognize the Taliban as the de facto government and is wary of the terrorist group that backs Uyghur Muslim minority separatists seeking to infiltrate its sensitive Xinjiang border region.

For Beijing, a stable and cooperative administration in Kabul would pave the way for an expansion of its infrastructure abroad, analysts said.

The Taliban, meanwhile, could view China as a crucial source of investment and economic support.

Chinese companies are also eyeing Afghanistan’s vast copper and lithium mines, but experts say the perilous security situation means an immediate rush by commodity investors is unlikely.

(Except for the title, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)