China| hopes | Taliban | play |"significant role" in the Afghan peace process

 

China hopes the Taliban will play a "significant role" in the Afghan peace process

China hopes the Afghan Taliban will play a key role in ending the Afghan war and rebuilding the country.

   A nine-member delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar met with North Foreign Minister Wang Jie in the northern city of Tianjin on a two-day visit to China, according to Reuters.

   Taliban spokesman Muhammad Naeem said the peace process and security issues were discussed during the meeting with Chinese officials.

   "The Taliban is expected to play a key role in the process of peaceful reconciliation and reconstruction in Afghanistan," said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Jiechi, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

   The Chinese foreign minister said he hoped the Taliban would take action against the East Turkestan Islamic Movement because it posed a direct threat to China's national security.

   China says the group is "active in China's Xinjiang."

   The visit is likely to further strengthen the militant group's international identity at a critical time when violence in Afghanistan is on the rise.

   The Taliban has a political office in Qatar where the Afghan peace process is being discussed. The Taliban also sent representatives to Iran this month to meet with an Afghan government delegation.

   Referring to the visit to China, Taliban spokesman Muhammad Naeem tweeted that "the meetings discussed issues related to the two countries' politics, economy and security, the current situation in Afghanistan and the peace process."

   Mohammad Naeem added that the delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar also met the Chinese Special Representative for Afghanistan and the visit was made at the invitation of Chinese officials.

   Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is leading the Taliban delegation (Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry)

   In Afghanistan, which also shares a border with China, the security situation has deteriorated since the US withdrawal.

   Since the announcement of the US withdrawal, the Afghan Taliban have seized several districts and border crossings.

   Peace talks in Qatar have not made much progress so far.

   The Afghan Taliban have assured China that they will not allow anyone to use Afghan territory against China.

   China also reiterated its commitment to continue helping the Afghans, saying "it will not interfere in Afghanistan's affairs but will help resolve issues and restore peace."