Chinese language International Minister Wang Yi launched into a shock go to to Afghanistan on Thursday in an try to deepen political and financial ties between the 2 nations.
Wang met with Taliban leaders in Kabul, his first journey to the nation because the fundamentalist group took management in August. Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar and International Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi had been two prime Taliban officers current on the assembly.
What did the Chinese language, Taliban leaders talk about?
In the course of the go to, China’s prime diplomat reportedly expressed concern that Afghanistan might develop into a staging floor for assaults by Muslim Uyghur separatists.
A press release from Baradar’s workplace claimed that Wang had been assured over all considerations China thinks might “emerge from the soil of Afghanistan.” The assertion didn’t point out the Uyghurs instantly, nonetheless.
China’s considerations usually are not with out motive, because the Taliban beforehand harbored members of the al-Qaida terrorist group when it was final in energy within the early 2000’s.
A press release from Afghanistan’s International Ministry stated Wang spoke with Muttaqi about “increasing political and financial ties” and dealing collectively in Afghanistan’s mining sector.
Though China has not acknowledged the Taliban as Afghanistan’s official leaders because the group returned to energy, Beijing has shied away from criticizing the Taliban.
Subsequent week, China will maintain a summit with overseas ministers from six of Afghanistan’s neighboring nations. The assembly will middle on Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian and crises following the Taliban takeover.
Wang visits India amid Kashmir controversy
In a while Thursday, Wang reportedly met together with his Indian counterpart, the primary high-level go to by a Chinese language diplomat since bloody border skirmishes dampened bilateral ties in 2020. The journey was not formally introduced by the Indian or Chinese language governments.
Wang’s go to additionally comes after the overseas minister was criticized by the Indian authorities over his latest remarks pertaining to the disputed Kashmir area.
Earlier this week, Wang addressed a convention by the Group for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the place he stated China “shares the identical hope” because the OIC with reference to Muslim-majority Kashmir. The OIC has known as for self-determination for the territory, which is partly managed by India.
“We reject the uncalled reference to India by the Chinese language International Minister Wang Xi,” the Indian International Ministry stated in a press release on Wednesday.
wd/rt (AP, AFP, Reuters)