Kabul. A Taliban spokesman said on Friday (local time) that China promised to keep its embassy in Afghanistan open and to increase its humanitarian aid to the country, devastated by decades of conflict.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, a member of the Islamist group’s political bureau in Doha, Qatar, “held talks with Wu Jianghao, Deputy Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China”, spokesman Suhail Shaheen announced on Twitter.
“The Chinese deputy minister assured that they will keep their embassy in Kabul, and that our relations will improve. (…) China will continue and increase its humanitarian aid, particularly for the treatment of Covid-19”, he added.
The Chinese government did not immediately confirm the announcement.
Most countries are approaching the establishment of relations with the Taliban cautiously, as the group prepares to leave the insurgent struggle behind and take command of the country.
By contrast, China, which has repeatedly criticized what it considers a hasty and poorly planned U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, has shown itself willing to establish “friendly and cooperative” relations with the new regime.
Its embassy in Kabul remains operational even though the government began evacuating its citizens months ago for security reasons.
But the Chinese authorities have not yet recognized the new Taliban regime and are on alert for any potential support by the movement for separatists from the Uyghur Muslim minority in the Xinjiang region, which is precisely where the only stretch of border between the two countries lies.
China understands that a stable and cooperative administration in Kabul would pave the way for the expansion of its major international infrastructure development project, analysts believe.
For the Islamist movement, the Asian giant can be a crucial source of economic support and investment.
In addition, Chinese companies have their eyes on Afghanistan’s large copper and lithium mines, although experts assert that immediate investment is unlikely given the fragile security situation.
Source: La Jormada
