The Taliban said Thursday they had assured Beijing’s most senior diplomatabout any concerns China link thinks may”emerge from Afghan soil”, ahead of a key meeting with their neighboursnext week.
China link shares only a sliver of a borderwith Afghanistan link, but Beijing haslong feared its conflict-plagued neighbour could become a staging point forMuslim Uyghur separatists from Xinjiang.
China link Foreign Ministerlink Wang Yilink in Kabul Thursday on hisfirst trip to Afghanistan link sincethe Taliban seized power, meeting Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradarand Foreign Minister link AmirKhan Muttaqi.
Without specifically mentioning the Uyghurs, Baradar’s office said in astatement that Wang had been assured over all concerns Beijing “thinksemerge from the soil of Afghanistanlink”.
Since returning to power in August, the Taliban have repeatedly pledged notto allow Afghan soil to be used as a base for foreign terror groups.
Their harbouring of Osama bin Laden and other senior Al-Qaeda figures inthe wake of the 9/11 attacks prompted the US-led invasion that ended theirfirst stint in power.
Even before the Taliban seized control of the country in August, theyforged ties with China link as US-ledforeign forces withdrew.
Beijing is hosting a meeting of Afghanistanlink neighbours next week on how toassist the hardline Islamist government.
“The Islamic Emirate wants to expand ties further” with Chinalink, Baradar’s statement said.
Wang and Muttaqi also spoke of expanding “economic and political ties”between the two countries, the foreign ministry said in a tweet.
They also discussed commencing work in Afghanistanlink mines sector.
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Chinese mining groups are in talks with the Taliban on exploring Afghanistanlink mining sector, media reportssay.
As Wang visited, Russia’s special envoy to Afghanistanlink, Zamir Kabulov, also arrived inKabul for talks with Taliban officials, the foreign ministry said.
Afghanistan link has plunged intofinancial and humanitarian crises since the exit of US-led foreign forces.
The meeting of Afghanistan linkneighbours next week will allow the Taliban to present their own assessmentof the latest situation in the country.
Media reports say Chinese and Pakistani officials are expected to discussnew economic projects in Afghanistanlink.
Maintaining stability after decades of war in Afghanistanlink is Beijing’s main considerationas it seeks to secure its borders and strategic infrastructure investmentsin neighbouring Pakistan, home to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
For Beijing, a stable and cooperative administration in Kabul would alsopave the way for an expansion of its Belt and Road Initiative intoAfghanistan link and through theCentral Asian republics, analysts say.
The Taliban consider China link a crucialsource of investment and economic support, either directly or via Pakistan.
During the chaotic takeover of power by the hardline Islamists, Beijingkept its embassy open in Kabul even as it evacuated many citizens from thecountry. – APP/AFP
