China thanks Afghanistan for support combating ETIM
Taliban delegation also invited to the Chinese capital for talks last month, report says
The defence minister thanked the head of the Afghan army for Kabul’s support against what Beijing brands an extremist group seeking independence for the western region of Xinjiang.
Defence Minister Chang Wanquan thanked Afghan army chief of general staff Qadam Shah Shaheem for Kabul’s “valuable support in combating the [East Turkestan Islamic Movement] terrorist forces and on issues related to China’s core interests”, Xinhua reported.
A statement on the defence ministry’s website cited Shaheem as saying Afghanistan was willing to continue fighting ETIM by “deepening cooperation on personnel training and joint exercises and other means”.
The meeting on Sunday came after China invited a Taliban delegation to Beijing last month to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, where the insurgent movement was still fighting the Western-backed government in Kabul, Reuters reported.
Sources in the Taliban said a delegation visited China in July for five days, but Chinese officials have not confirmed it. The delegation was led by Abbas Stanakzai, head of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, Reuters reported.