What Chinese Ambassador thinks about Afghan Taliban role in Afghanistan?
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PESHAWAR - Chinese Ambassador in Islamabad Yao Jing has given a surprise and encouraging statement about the Afghan Taliban.
He said that his country will “pick Afghan Taliban as a political force” in the backdrop of their participation in the ongoing peace talks with the US and at other forums.
Speaking at a roundtable conference at the Area Study Centre, University of Peshawar, on Tuesday, he said that Beijing supported Pakistan’s fresh initiatives for facilitating efforts for political settlement of the Afghan conflict and confidence-building measures in relations with Kabul.
Asked about apparent lack of eagerness on the part of China in the ongoing talks for political settlement of the Afghan issue, the envoy said that his country had contacts with both the Taliban and the Afghan government.
China had deputed a special envoy who was visiting the Taliban’s political office in Doha, he added.
“China will pick them (Taliban) as a political force because they are now part of the Afghan political process and they have some political concerns.
They have to be allowed to play a legitimate role in the future political settlement,” he further elaborated his government’s policy on the Afghan peace process being discussed at different forums.
“If possible, China can exert pressure on the Taliban to join the peace process,” said the ambassador who had served in Kabul and New Delhi before taking over his new assignment in Pakistan.
He urged all external stakeholders, including Afghanistan’s neighbours, to play their role for peace in the war-ravaged country.
