Wed 28 July 2021:
Taliban’s nine-member delegation has visited China. In the two-day visit, in an attempt to hold talks on peace process and security issues, The delegation met the foreign minister of the country, the group’s spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Taliban spokesperson Mohammad Naeem tweeted, “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.”
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said the Taliban is expected 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.
WATCH | #China‘s FM #Wang Yi today (28/7) met with the #Taliban delegation headed by deputy leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in #Tianjin during its visit in China. pic.twitter.com/APMUuB0vXN
— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) July 28, 2021
He also said that he hoped the Taliban would crack down on the East Turkestan Islamic Movement as it was a “direct threat to China’s national security,” according to the readout, referring to a group China says is active in the Xinjiang region in China’s far west.
Taliban spokesperson Naeem added that the group, led by Taliban negotiator and deputy leader Mullah Baradar Akhund, was also meeting China’s special envoy for Afghanistan and that the trip took place after an invitation from Chinese authorities.
“(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.”
Taliban has made deep inroads into western and northern regions mainly in the rural areas as US troops pull out of the region.
President Joe Biden had announced the last US troops will pull out by August 31, reports say the bulk of NATO troops have already exited from the region.
The group has seized border crossings along the Pakistan border including with Iran and Tajikistan even as peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban remain inconclusive.
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