Wang Yi and Acting Afghan Government Meet, Agree To Set Up Joint Working Committees

Oct. 26, 2021 (EIRNS)—Officials of both China and Afghanistan appear to view the Oct. 25-26 two days of meetings between Afghanistan’s Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Doha, Qatar, as productive and friendly. Going into the talks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin yesterday pointed out the importance of the talks, “also the first high-level meeting between the two sides since the Afghan Taliban's formation of the interim government. Both sides will take this opportunity to have an in-depth exchange of views on the Afghan situation and issues of common interests,” he said. “The Afghan people are seeing a historic opportunity to independently take control of their country’s future,” at the same time that they face “many difficulties and challenges, where there is an urgent need for external support,” Wang Wenbin emphasized. “Against such a backdrop, the Chinese side and the Afghan Taliban authorities have agreed to meet in Doha.”

Global Times reports that Wang Yi spoke of China’s concerns (ETIM Xinjiang separatist terrorism, the need for inclusive government, for avoiding chaos, and for having good relations with neighbors, etc.), but also expressed China’s support for Afghanistan’s development:

“Wang urged the U.S. and the West to lift sanctions on the country. He also called upon all parties to engage with the Afghan Taliban in a rational and pragmatic manner to help Afghanistan embark on a path of healthy development,” Global Times reported.

“Wang said that Afghanistan is now at a critical stage of transforming from chaos to governance, and is facing a historic opportunity to achieve reconciliation and advance national reconstruction. But challenges still lay ahead, including the humanitarian crises, economic chaos and terrorist threats, which require more understanding and support from the international community.”

Global Times reported that Baradar had briefed Wang on the current situation in Afghanistan, and told him “that the Afghan Taliban attaches great importance to China’s security concerns, and will resolutely honor its promise and never allow any forces to use the Afghan territory to harm China.” China’s Xinjiang province, which the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) separatist terrorists refer to as “East Turkestan,” borders Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s TOLOnews, citing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, reports that Beijing had promised to provide $5 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. Furthermore, he said, “Three committees will be created: The first committee is working on political and diplomatic relations, the second will focus on creating relations and understanding between the two countries, and the third committee is working on economic projects,” Mujahid reported.