China is the Taliban’s “principal partner” in the international community, the Islamist group has said in its strongest signal yet of diplomatic priorities.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Thursday claimed Beijing was “ready to invest in and reconstruct” Afghanistan as he set out hopes that China would provide a gateway into global markets.
His remarks offer the clearest indication to date of the diplomatic direction in which the Taliban is turning, as well as how it intends to solve the economic crisis crippling the country.
Mr Mujahid said the Chinese would revive Afghan copper mining and production as he expressed admiration for the One Belt One Road project under which China extends significant loans to other countries to invest in infrastructure.
Western critics have framed the initiative as a debt trap that helps Beijing extend geopolitical influence – a charge rejected by Chinese leaders.
The senior Taliban official’s remarks came after Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, declared earlier in the day that Britain “will not be recognising the Taliban any time in the foreseeable future”.
Mr Raab acknowledged that there was “important scope for engagement and dialogue”, but warned that acceptance of the new Afghan regime as a legitimate government was some way off.
Britain and other western nations view formal recognition as a diplomatic lever with which to apply pressure on the Taliban to allow at-risk Afghans to leave the country, to respect human rights, and to allow girls to go to school.
SupaFlyslammajammazz on September 3rd, 2021 at 16:05 UTC »
With China and Afghanistan sharing a border, they can start building their Belt Road into Central Asia at the Hindu Kush.
lurch350z on September 3rd, 2021 at 14:43 UTC »
Imagine that... Afghanistan holding one of the largest lithium deposits in the world... China the largest manufacturer of batteries... Didn't see that coming....
DiplomoOPlata on September 3rd, 2021 at 13:09 UTC »