New Delhi: After capturing Afghanistan and claiming to take control of the Panjshir valley, the Taliban has now expressed a desire to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Monday that they wish to join the CPEC projects. Mujahid also informed that the Taliban will address Islamabad`s concerns about Pakistan-based terror group 'Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan' (TTP), Samaa News reported.
Mujahid also confirmed an upcoming meeting between Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief Lt General Faiz Hameed and Taliban senior leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, as reported by ANI.
What is the CPEC project?
CPEC is a part of China's most ambitious project 'Belt and Road Initiative', aimed at renewing the country's historic trade routes in the coastal countries of south-east Asia.
In 2015, China announced the 'China Pakistan Economic Corridor' (CPEC) project which is worth USD 46 billion.
With CPEC, Beijing aims to expand its influence in Pakistan and across Central and South Asia in order to counter the influence of the United States and India.
The CPEC would link Pakistan's southern Gwadar port (626 kilometers west of Karachi) in Balochistan on the Arabian Sea to China's western Xinjiang region. It also includes plans to create road, rail, and oil pipeline links to improve connectivity between China and the Middle East.
Pakistan terms Taliban's desires as' encouraging'
Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday welcomed the Taliban’s desire for Afghanistan’s inclusion in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and termed it an encouraging sign.
“It is good if Taliban’s views about China are similar to that of Pakistan,” he told a press conference, as reported by Dawn
Rashid said CPEC was an economic lifeline for the country.
“Pakistan is proud of its friendship with China and if Taliban hold similar views, then it is really good,” he said.