China’s Wang, Russia’s Kabulov show up in Kabul, engage Taliban leaders

A large Russian delegation led by Zamir Kabulov, Special Representative for Afghanistan, also met Taliban officials to discuss economic cooperation.

Wang, who arrived in Kabul from Islamabad after attending the conference of OIC Foreign Ministers, met Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

China is hosting a meeting of Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan’s neighbours later this month. This will be the third meeting of the ministers, but the first in which Afghanistan is scheduled to participate. The first meeting was held in Pakistan last September, and the second in Iran in November.

According to Xinhua and Global Times, Wang told Baradar that China welcomes “Afghanistan’s active participation in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, and stands ready to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan, replicate more successful experiences, and make Afghanistan, with the geographical strength as the ‘Heart of Asia’, a bridge for regional connectivity”.

He said he hopes Afghanistan will “firmly and resolutely” fulfill its “commitment of not allowing any external forces to use Afghan territory to oppose its neighbouring countries or harm the security of other countries”.

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He told Baradar that China is “the only major country that has not hurt Afghanistan”. China’s policy on the Afghan issue, he said, is based on “three respects” and “three nevers.”

“China respects Afghanistan’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, respects the independent choice made by the Afghan people, and respects Afghanistan’s religious beliefs and customs. China never interferes in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, never seeks any self-interest in Afghanistan, and never seeks the so-called sphere of influence.”

According to Xinhua, he also expressed the hope that Afghanistan “will continue to establish an inclusive political structure, implement prudent policies, better safeguard the rights and interests of women and children, and demonstrate the tolerance and friendliness of Muslims”.

Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balki, in a statement, said Muttaqi and Wang discussed “political, economic & transit issues, air corridor, dried fruit export, educational scholarships, visa issuance, commencing work in the mines sector, Afghanistan’s role in BRI & other matters of significance”.

Muttaqi called Wang’s visit a “positive message to the Afghans and the world”.

“Minister Muttaqi added that the security brought about by the new (government) lays the foundation for foreign investment, including for China, in Afghanistan that ensures their interest besides cooperating with Afghans in economic growth & stability with the full support of the new gov,” Balkhi said in a Twitter post.

Russian envoy Kabulov also met Baradar, and reassured the Taliban that “the arrival of this comprehensive delegation to Afghanistan shows that Russia is committed to taking practical steps after determining the priorities of the Islamic Emirate,” according to a statement on Twitter by Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Kabulov, whose delegation included officials from the Russian ministries of Defence, Interior, Economy, Industry, Agriculture and Energy, said his government was ready to sign a number of agreements with the Taliban. Baradar invited Russia to invest in all sectors.

The Russian envoy also met Muttaqi. According to the Foreign Ministry spokesman, the two “focused on strengthening political, economic, transit and regional relations”.

The Afghan statement said Kabulov called the policies of the Islamic Emirate “balanced and in the interest of the region and the world, and expressed satisfaction” with its achievements.