China blames ‘abrupt’ US withdrawal for Afghanistan attack surge
- Chinese foreign ministry takes aim at United States after deadly bombings at Kabul girls’ school
- Beijing has long feared instability in the war-torn country could pose a security threat in China’s Xinjiang region
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China was “shocked” by the attacks and “deeply saddened” by the death toll. She also called on Washington to pull out troops “in a responsible manner”.
“It needs to be pointed out that the recent abrupt US announcement of complete withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan has led to a succession of explosive attacks throughout the country, worsening the security situation and threatening peace and stability as well as people’s lives and safety,” Hua said in a statement posted on the ministry’s website on Sunday.
“China calls on foreign troops in Afghanistan to take into full account the security of people in the country and the region, pull out in a responsible manner and avoid inflicting more turmoil and suffering on the Afghan people.”
There have been growing fears in both Afghanistan and its neighbour China of an emerging security vacuum as US and Nato troops complete their final military withdrawal. The final 2,500 to 3,500 American troops have begun leaving Afghanistan and will be out by September, after two decades of deployment there.
02:14
Afghan girls’ school bombing kills at least 68, raises fear of more violence as US withdraws