China, Russia, Pakistan Envoys Hold Talks With Taliban Officials, Former Prez Karzai In Kabul

The special envoys of China, Russia and Pakistan also met Afghan leaders Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul.

Beijing: A top Chinese official on Wednesday said the special envoys of China, Russia and Pakistan have met the Taliban interim government’s top officials in Kabul and discussed the formation of an inclusive government, combating terrorism and humanitarian situation.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing in Beijing that the three special envoys visited Kabul from September 21 to 22 and held talks with acting Prime Minister Mohammad Hasan Akhund, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqi, Finance Minister and other high-level officials of the interim government, PTI reported.

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The special envoys of China, Russia and Pakistan also met Afghan leaders Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul.

“HE @KarzaiH & I welcomed HE  Zamir Kabulov, the Russian President's Envoy to AFG, HE Yue Xiaoyong, China's Special Envoy to AFG, & HE Mohammad Sadiq Khan, Pakistan's Special Envoy to AFG. We exchanged views on the current developments in the country, & welcomed the role...,” Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation under the previous government, tweeted.

“...of AFG's neighbours in achieving peace, stability & inclusive government. They emphasised on formation of an inclusive government acceptable to all, peace, stability, moderate policy, respecting women rights, equal right of education for all Afghans & regional cooperation,” he posted on the micro-blogging platform.

This is the first time that the foreign diplomats met former president Karzai and Abdullah, who remained in Kabul after the Taliban seized power in mid-August ahead of the withdrawal of the U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) troops.

The meeting also coincides with the Taliban’s letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres nominating their spokesman Suhail Shaheen as Afghanistan’s new ambassador to the UN.

The Taliban in their letter to Guterres also asked him to allow them to participate and speak in the 76th session of the General Assembly currently underway in New York.

Citing the Russian government news release on the visit of the three envoys’ to Kabul, Russia's TASS news agency reported: “The Taliban underscored special attention to advancing relations with Russia, China and Pakistan and stressed the major role of the three countries in strengthening peace and security in Afghanistan.”

Russia, China and Pakistan have kept their embassies open in Kabul while the U.S., India and the European Union nations have closed their missions after the Taliban seized power.