As foreign troops headed by the United States continue to withdraw from Afghanistan, a meeting is held in Tianjin, China.

The Chinese Foreign Minister met with the Taliban delegation, indicating that relations with foreign powers led by the United States are heating up Continue their retreat From Afghanistan.

On Wednesday, Wang Yi told nine visiting Taliban representatives, including the organization’s co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, that Beijing hopes that the Taliban will “play an important role in the process of peace, reconciliation and reconstruction in Afghanistan. effect”. Meeting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He also stated that he hopes that the Taliban can suppress the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, because this is a “direct threat to China’s national security.” China says it is positive In the Xinjiang region, the westernmost part of China. Beijing has expressed concern that neighboring Afghanistan may be used as a gathering place for separatists.

This visit coincided with the Taliban A big win Since May, foreign troops headed by the United States have begun the final phase of retreat, which will be completed by the end of August.

Fighting with the Afghan government forces has led to a surge in civilian casualties and displacement.

At the same time, Taliban leaders have strengthened their international diplomacy in recent months, seeking global recognition of the time they wish to regain power.

Taliban spokesman Mohamed Naim said that Wednesday’s meeting in Tianjin, China was held at the invitation of the Chinese authorities, and it is widely believed that this was a gift from Beijing to this legitimacy.

Afghan security forces deployed around the Tolkham border point between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Nangarhar Province to combat Taliban operations [Anadolu Agency]

Naim wrote on Twitter, “The meeting discussed political, economic and issues related to the security of the two countries, the current situation in Afghanistan and the peace process.”

“[The] The delegation assured China that they will not allow anyone to use Afghanistan’s land to deal with China,” Naim said. “China also reaffirmed its commitment to continue to provide assistance to Afghanistan and stated that they will not interfere in the Afghan issue, but will Help Afghanistan resolve problems and restore peace. “

‘Untouchable country’

Beijing believes that the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is a good thing, and close ties with the future government of Kabul may also pave the way for the expansion of the “Belt and Road” initiative to Afghanistan and through the Central Asian Republic.

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs tried to further emphasize the differences between Washington and Beijing’s policies.

“China has always insisted on not interfering in the internal affairs of Afghanistan… Afghanistan belongs to the Afghan people,” he said, adding that this is in sharp contrast to the “failure of the U.S. policy towards Afghanistan.”

US Secretary of State Anthony Brinken warned during an official visit to India on Wednesday that if the Taliban controls Afghanistan by force, Afghanistan will become a “untouchable country.”

“The Taliban said it seeks international recognition and it wants Afghanistan to receive international support. Presumably, it wants its leaders to travel freely around the world, lift sanctions, etc.,” he told reporters.

“Taking over the country by force and abusing the rights of its people is not the way to achieve these goals.”

In addition, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani urged the international community to “review the Taliban and its supporters’ narratives of the willingness to accept a political solution”.

“In terms of scale, scope and timing, we are facing an unprecedented invasion in the past 30 years,” he said in a speech on Wednesday.

“These are not the Taliban of the 20th century… but the embodiment of the connection between transnational terrorist networks and transnational criminal organizations,” he said.