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TIANJIN: China’s foreign minister has met a Taliban delegation, signalling warming ties as United States foreign forces continue their withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Taliban delegations have visited neighbouring countries in recent weeks including Iran and Russia gaining international standing. The latest regional power to host them was China, whose Foreign Minister Wang Yi met a nine-person delegation led by Taliban deputy leader Mullah Baradar Akhund in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin during a two-day visit.
Wang Yi told the nine visiting Taliban representatives that Beijing expected it to “play an important role in the process of peaceful reconciliation and reconstruction in Afghanistan”, according to a readout of the meeting from the foreign ministry.
He also said he hoped the Taliban would crack down on the East Turkestan Islamic Movement as it was a “direct threat to China’s national security”, referring to a group China says is active in the Xinjiang region. Beijing has said it fears neighbouring Afghanistan could be used as a staging ground for separatists.
The visit comes as the Taliban has made sweeping gains across Afghanistan since May, when the US-led foreign forces began the last stage of their withdrawal, which is set to be completed by the end of August.
The fighting with Afghan government forces has led to a surge in civilian casualties and displacements. Taliban leaders have stepped up their international diplomacy in recent months, seeking global recognition for when they hope to return to power.
Taliban spokesman Mohammed Naeem said was at the invitation from Chinese authorities, was widely seen as a gift from Beijing towards that legitimacy.
Naeem wrote on Twitter that “politics, economy and issues related to the security of both countries and the current situation of Afghanistan and the peace process were discussed in the meetings”.
“[The] delegation assured China that they will not allow anyone to use Afghan soil against China,” Naeem said. “China also reiterated its commitment of continuation of their assistance with Afghans and said they will not interfere in Afghanistan’s issues but will help to solve the problems and restoration of peace in the country.”
Russia said it was beefing up the combat capabilities at its military base in Tajikistan, a small former Soviet republic that borders Afghanistan. Russia is set to hold military drills on August 5-10 near Tajikistan’s Afghan border, involving more than 1,000 Russian soldiers as well as Uzbek and Tajik forces.
