China is playing double sides with the Afghanistan government and the Taliban. It is rumoured that China is inclining towards the Taliban, as the country aims to become a world power.
According to ANI, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi publicly acknowledged the Taliban as a “crucial military and political force in Afghanistan that is expected to play an important role in the peace, reconciliation and reconstruction process of the country”, during one of the delegations that took place between the insurgent group and China in Tianjin.
China’s acknowledgement comes at a time when the Taliban is seeking international recognition and legitimacy.
Twelve days before the meeting with the Taliban, Xi Jinping assured President Ashraf Ghani that China will extend support to Afghanistan to maintain the integrity and sovereignty of the nation.
Soon after the meeting in Tianjin, a Taliban spokesperson said “[The] delegation assured China that they will not allow anyone to use Afghan soil against China.”
Taliban government in Afghanistan ensures that China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Central Asia will be sped up. In turn, China might have to supply arms and arsenal to the insurgent group.
Taliban during the Tianjin meeting also said that it is ready to accept investments from China to reconstruct Afghanistan. It can be understood that China is currently waiting for Afghanistan to return to normalcy, in order to negotiate with the Taliban.
