Taliban spokesman: China to keep embassy in Afghanistan and increase aid
- Taliban member Abdul Salam Hanafi had a phone conversation with Wu Jianghao, Deputy Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, said the spokesman
- Beijing has not yet recognised the Taliban as the de facto government, and is wary of the militant group providing support to Uygur separatists
A Taliban spokesman said on Friday that China has promised to keep its embassy in Afghanistan open and to increase humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged country.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, a member of the Islamist group’s political office in Doha, Qatar, “held a phone conversation with Wu Jianghao, Deputy Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China,” spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted.
“The Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister said that they would maintain their embassy in Kabul, adding our relations would beef up as compared to the past. Afghanistan can play an important role in security and development of the region,” he said.
“China will also continue and increase its humanitarian assistance especially for treatment of Covid-19,” the spokesman continued.
There was no immediate confirmation from Beijing.
Much of the world has adopted a wait-and-see approach to engagement with the Taliban as they shift gears from Islamist insurgent group to governing power.