China Backs Taliban’s Interim Govt, Announces $31 Million Aid For Afghanistan

Announcing the aid to Afghanistan, China said it is a “necessary step” to restore order and “end anarchy”.

Beijing: Weeks after the Taliban seized power in Kabul, China on Wednesday announced USD 31 million as aid to Afghanistan while backing the insurgent group’s interim government in the war-torn nation.

Announcing the aid to Afghanistan, China said it is a “necessary step” to restore order and “end anarchy”.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing will provide Afghanistan with 200 million yuan (USD 31 million) worth of grains, winter supplies, vaccines and medicines as per the needs of its people, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Stating China has decided to donate 3 million vaccine doses to the Afghan people in the first batch, he said Beijing is as well ready to provide more anti-epidemic and emergency materials to Afghanistan under the China-South Asian Countries Emergency Supplies Reserves.

He further said China would work with other nations in the region to help Afghanistan rebuild its economy and society besides fighting the terrorist groups and the illegal drug trade.

Wang Yi made the announcement while taking part in the first meeting of Foreign Ministers of the neighbouring countries on Afghanistan, which was convened by Pakistan.

The Foreign Ministers from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Iran attended the meeting, which was hosted by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Asserting “China attaches importance to the Afghan Taliban's announcement of the formation of an interim government and some key roles”, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin had earlier said “this has put an end to the anarchy in Afghanistan that lasted for over three weeks and is a necessary step for Afghanistan to restore domestic order and pursue post-war reconstruction”.

Responding to a poser on the formation of the interim government, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said China hopes “Afghanistan will establish a broadly based and inclusive political structure, follow moderate and prudent domestic and foreign policies, resolutely combat all types of terrorist forces, and live on friendly terms with other countries, especially its neighbours”.

Stating that China will respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, Wang Wenbin said Beijing too supports the Afghan people in independently choosing a development path suited to the country's conditions.

Earlier in July, a Taliban delegation had visited Beijing and held talks with the Chinese Foreign Minister.

The Taliban had on Tuesday announced an interim government in Afghanistan to be led by Mullah Hasan Akhund.

Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar, who had led talks with the United States and signed the deal that led to America's final withdrawal from Afghanistan, will be one of the two deputies to Akhund in the new Taliban regime.

Mullah Abdus Salam will be another deputy to Akhund.