China calls for greater international support for Afghanistan, but tells Taliban world has ‘some expectations’ on progress
- Beijing uses second anniversary of Taliban takeover to appeal to international community to step up counterterrorist efforts and engagements
- Foreign ministry also urges regime to ‘take active steps’ and ‘improve its response’ in areas such as women’s rights
China has urged the international community to step up support for Afghanistan and work with it to combat terrorism on the second anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover of the country.
“It is necessary for the international community to strengthen bilateral and multilateral counterterrorism security cooperation and to support Afghanistan in its comprehensive approach … to achieve lasting peace, stability and development at an early date,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a scheduled press conference on Tuesday.
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He also urged the international community to recognise the efforts the Taliban had made, saying: “The interim government in Afghanistan has taken a series of pragmatic measures, which the outside world should view objectively and fairly.
“It has been seen to promote economic recovery, safeguard people’s livelihood, prohibit drugs, combat corruption, and improve security.”
But he also said that the international community has “some expectations” such as the protection of women and ethnic minorities, as well as a more inclusive government system.
“We hope the interim government of Afghanistan will take active steps and improve its response to the Afghan people and the international community,” Wang said.
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Two years ago, the Taliban took over Kabul after the United States withdrew troops from the country, overthrowing the Western-backed government that replaced it in 2001.
The Taliban’s ties with extremist organisations, al-Qaeda especially, have also created more room for terrorist activities.
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Counterterrorism remains a key concern for Beijing, especially the risk that it may spill across its own border.
In April China put forward a four-point proposal with Afghanistan’s neighbours to tackle the problem.
Although China has not officially recognised the Taliban government, it has gradually stepped up exchanges with the Kabul authorities, including delivering US$37 in humanitarian aid to the war-torn state and holding security and trade talks with Afghanistan and Pakistan in May.
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According to a report by Unicef last month, the number of people in Afghanistan needing humanitarian assistance has risen to 29.2 million, while over 15 million people are projected to face crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity.
Wang said to achieve long-term stability in Afghanistan, the humanitarian crisis should first be solved and countries that have cut aid, frozen assets, and imposed sanctions on Afghanistan in these two years should “learn the lesson”.
