Taliban leader meets Chinese FM; assures not to allow terrorist forces to operate from Af

Pak-China joint plan

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The Taliban delegation’s visit followed days after Pakistan and China announced plans to launch ‘joint actions’ in Afghanistan to drive out terrorist forces during the talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistan Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Chinese city of Chengdu on July 25.

During Wednesday’s talks, Wang expressed hope that the Taliban could draw a clear line between themselves and the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM).

A recent UN report said hundreds of ETIM fighters had gathered in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province which borders China’s volatile Xinjiang province. Wang said the ETIM was a listed terrorist organisation that threatened territorial integrity.

Beijing/Tianjin, July 28

A Taliban delegation, led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, on Wednesday made a surprise visit to China and held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during which the Taliban leader termed Beijing as a “trustworthy friend” and assured that the group would not permit “anyone to use” Afghanistan’s territory.

This is the first meeting between China and the Taliban amid the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan.

The ongoing offensive by the Taliban capturing a significant amount of territory from government forces has sparked concerns in China that the separatist Uygur militant group from its volatile Xinjiang province, the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, (ETIM) would infiltrate through its Afghan borders. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, has confirmed at a media briefing that the delegation led by Baradar met Wang at the port city Tianjin located close to Beijing.The ministry also posted photos of Wang with Baradar and his delegation.

The Taliban delegation’s visit followed days after Pakistan and China announced plans to launch ‘joint actions’ in Afghanistan to drive out terrorist forces during the talks between Wang and Pakistan Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Chinese city of Chengdu on July 25.

During Wednesday’s talks, Wang expressed hope that the Taliban could draw a clear line between themselves and the ETIM, Zhao said reading out a press release issued after the Wang-Baradar meeting. A recent UN report said hundreds of ETIM fighters had gathered in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province which borders China’s volatile Xinjiang province. Wang said the ETIM was a listed terrorist organisation that threatened territorial integrity. Fighting ETIM is a common cause of the international community. He expressed hope that Taliban could draw a clear line between themselves and ETIM. That would create a favourable condition to eradicating terrorism. Baradar said “China is a trustworthy friend”. “He appreciated China’s fair and positive role in the reconciliation process,” the press release said. “Afghanistan will not allow anyone to use the territory to do things that would undermine the interests of its people,” Baradar said without mentioning ETIM. “Afghanistan would like to have friendly ties with its neighbours. Afghanistan Taliban would like to have more partners in its future development,” Baradar said. “The Afghan Taliban would also create an enabling environment for incoming investment and would make relevant efforts in this regard,” he said. “Afghanistan has the sincerity in reaching reconciliation and would like to build an architecture that is acceptable to all factions,” he said. “It (Taliban) will ensure the rights of women and children,” he said. Wang said, “We respect the sovereignty and integrity of Afghanistan. We don’t interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan. We follow friendly policy towards the people of Afghanistan.”PTI