US-led Coalition Leaves, Chinese Foreign Minister Hopes The Taliban Will Play An Important Role In Afghanistan

Menteri Luar China Wang Yi. (Wikimedia Commons / Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation)

JAKARTA - China expects the Taliban to play an important role in Afghanistan in ending the war at home and rebuilding the country. This was conveyed in a meeting between officials of the two countries last Wednesday.

Nine Taliban representatives, led by negotiator and deputy Taliban leader Mullah Baradar Akhund, met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as well as China's special envoy for Afghanistan in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin on a two-day visit.

Wang Yi said the Taliban are expected to play an important role in the process of peaceful reconciliation and reconstruction in Afghanistan, according to a meeting report from China's Foreign Ministry, citing Reuters Thursday, July 29.

On the occasion, Wang also hoped that the Taliban would take action against the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, because it is a direct threat to China's national security', referring to a group that China says is active in the Xinjiang region in China's far west.

Taliban illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/isafmedia)

The visit has the potential to strengthen recognition of the Taliban on the international stage at a sensitive time when violence is escalating in Afghanistan. The militants have a political office in Qatar where peace talks are taking place and this month sent representatives to Iran where they held meetings with an Afghan government delegation.

"Political, economic and issues related to the security of the two countries and the current situation of Afghanistan and the peace process were discussed at the meeting," Taliban spokesman Mohammed Naeem tweeted about the China visit.

Asked about the Taliban visit, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is in New Delhi, India, said it was a positive thing if Beijing promoted a peaceful resolution to war.

"No one has any interest in the military takeover by the Taliban, the restoration of the Islamic emirate," he said in an interview with CNN-News18 television.

Security in Afghanistan, which borders China, is rapidly deteriorating as the withdrawal of the US-led international coalition, which is due for completion in September, begins.

The Taliban immediately launched a series of attacks, taking control of districts and border crossing posts in parts of Afghanistan, while peace talks in the Qatari capital, Doha have not made any substantive progress.

"(The delegation) assured China they would not allow anyone to use Afghan soil against China," Naeem said.

"China also reaffirmed its commitment to continue their assistance with Afghanistan and said they will not interfere in Afghanistan's problems, but will help solve problems and restore peace in the country," he concluded.