China, Pakistan discuss situation in Afghanistan, regional collaboration

-- China's top diplomat on Afghanistan meets Foreign Secretary Syrus Qazi

ISLAMABAD: China's senior diplomat and special envoy on Afghanistan Ambassador Yue Xiaonyou called on Foreign Secretary Syrus Qazi on Friday and discussed matters of mutual interest.

Additional Foreign Secretary (Afghanistan and West Asia) Ambassador Rahim Hayat Qureshi and other officials were also present during the meeting.

The meeting comes on heels of China's official acceptance of credentials of Bilal Karimi, the Taliban-appointed ambassador to China. The move has trigged a debate in diplomatic circles as eyebrows were raised with diplomats arguing as if China had officially taken a step towards accepting Taliban regime in Kabul.

In the backdrop of the development, China's special envoy on Afghanistan, Ambassador Yue Xiaonyou, arrived Islamabad and remained engaged with Foreign Office on matters of mutual interest.

 

China's move to accepting the credentials of Taliban Ambassador is in contrast with the conditions set by the United Nations and the western world led by the United States of America who have legitimate concerns against the Afghan Taliban's commitment on major UN conventions especially treatment of women, minorities and women education.

However, the recent moves by the US suggest that the western countries are also softening their respective stance against the Afghan Taliban and a middle way is being sought to sort out matters with Afghan regime.

In this regard, the sources say, India was playing a key role in helping the Afghan Taliban to be recognised as legitimate rules of Afghanistan but certain impediments were a major hurdle in this regard.

A joint statement issued by the foreign office highlighted the commitment of both nations to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, emphasising the necessity of enhanced coordination for regional stability.

While the statement did not delve further into specifics, officials privy to the development said that Islamabad was concerned about China's move at a time when Islamabad and Kabul are not on the same page on various regional issues.

The sources said that Pakistan is sceptic about China's unilateral decision to accept the credentials of Afghan Taliban Ambassador without regional consensus on many issues as this decision reflected that perhaps Beijing was poised to officially accept Afghan Taliban as legitimate regime in Afghanistan.

The sources said that China has long been concerned on the presence of terrorists belonging to defunct East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) on Afghan soil and China has been encouraging the Kabul regime to take action against ETIM which was a threat to China.

On the other hand, there are reports that Taliban have relocated remnants of the ETIM from Badakhashan to Baghlan province, prompting China to remain vigilant about potential security threats emanating from Afghanistan.

Recent media reports suggest that the United States has been mulling ways and means to reopen its consulate in Kabul but first Kabul would have to remove certain impediments in this regard.

The United State believes that the Afghan Taliban need to fulfill international commitments by forming an inclusive government and ensuring other commitment on human rights and minority rights besides women rights.

While the world is sorting out matters with Kabul, Pakistan has adopted a hard stance with Kabul asking the Taliban to take action against Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP)and other terrorists and make sure that Afghan soil is not used against Pakistan - but Taliban remain reluctant to fulfill these demands.