CHINA: On Wednesday, China said that it will decide on extending diplomatic recognition to the Taliban in Afghanistan only after the government is formed. “China’s position on the Afghan issue is consistent and clear,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in a media briefing.
“If we have to recognize a government, the first thing is that we will need to wait until the government is formed,” he added.
Zhao also said that besides forming an open and inclusive government, the Taliban must not permit any other terrorist forces. “We hope there will be an open, inclusive, and broadly representative regime in Afghanistan. Only after that, we will come to the question of diplomatic recognition.”
“The Taliban must also keep its word not permit any terrorist forces, especially the Uygur militant group from Xinjiang province-the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM).”
The ETIM is a militant group from China’s volatile Xinjiang province. It is fighting for the independence of the province, which is home to over 10-million Uygur Muslims. The UNSC al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee had listed ETIM as a terrorist organization in 2002.
Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujhajid’s announced general amnesty to all those who worked for the Afghan government. Reacting to this, Zhao said that peace restoration is the most imperative task for the militant group.
“We have noted the statement from the Afghan Taliban. We hope it will work with other factions at home through dialogue and consultation and establish an inclusive and open political framework and adopt moderate and prudent domestic and foreign policy and ensure that personnel and institutions of other countries in Afghanistan will be safe,” Zhao said.
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Talking about the Taliban’s promise to respect women’s rights, Zhao said, “The situation in Afghanistan has experienced major changes. We respect the will and choice of the Afghan people. The most imperative task at hand is to restore peace and stability and order as soon as possible and to prevent unnecessary casualties resulting in a large-scale refugee population,” he said.
“The safety and interests of Afghan and foreign nationals, diplomatic missions in Afghanistan must be respected and guaranteed,” Zhao added.
