China, our ‘great neighbour’, will help Afghanistan forge peace: Taliban
- Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen tells This Week in Asia that China can play a ‘constructive and positive’ role in reconstruction and economic development
- He says the group will honour its pledge not to give terrorists a safe haven and claims there are ‘no issues’ in women having access to education or work
“We are ready to exchange views with China on how to forge ahead in terms of boosting our mutual relations, establishing peace in the region, and its assistance in the reconstruction of Afghanistan,” said Suhail.
“China, our great neighbouring country, can have a constructive and positive role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and also in the economic development and prosperity of the people of Afghanistan. It is expected [that] China [will] play its role.”
He reiterated the Taliban’s commitment not to allow militant groups to use Afghanistan as a base for attacks, saying it had “given a clear message to all that no one can use the soil of Afghanistan against neighbouring and other countries”.
China has emerged as one of the strongest voices calling for the Islamist group to be given the space and help to prove itself, even as communities of Afghans, including women, continue trying to flee in memory of the Taliban’s oppression during its previous period of rule.