Chinese FM makes first visit to Afghanistan since Taliban takeover

ByNews Desk- The Cradle 

China has made proposals to integrate Afghanistan into the Belt and Road Initiative on conditions that the new Afghan government implements reforms

Wang Yi, the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, landed in Kabul, Afghanistan, on 24 March for his first visit to the country after the withdrawal of US forces and the establishment of the interim government led by the Taliban.

The trip comes as the Chinese foreign minister returns from Pakistan where he attended the foreign ministers’ summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Wang met with the Afghan interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

China has extended its hand of diplomacy to Afghanistan following the end of the 20 year US occupation of Afghanistan, including proposals to integrate Afghanistan into the Belt and Road Initiative.

China has sent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan as well as established trade ties, buying Afghan products, which provides a source of much needed foreign currency reserves for Afghanistan in the midst of a severe economic crisis plaguing the country.

The unilateral seizing of Afghanistan’s sovereign wealth held in foreign banks by the US administration was fiercely criticized by Beijing, calling on the US to return the money to Afghanistan.

The partnerships of Afghanistan with China, as well as with the Islamic Republic of Iran and other neighboring countries, is contingent on implementing reforms so that the new government does not reflect the various abuses of the previous Taliban rule of the 1990s.

The current Taliban leadership is mainly comprised of more moderate factions that were boosted into power largely due to the efforts of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following the US invasion in 2001.

The interim government, led by the Taliban, has pledged to uphold the rights of religious minorities and women, and many indications have shown adherence to these pledges, such as the protection of the annual Shia Muslim commemoration of Ashura, as well as encouragement of women to serve in government positions.

However, on 23 March, a Taliban decision to temporarily shut down high schools for girls has raised concerns about whether the interim government can be trusted to uphold its promises in the long term.