Chinese FM, Taliban hold talks in Doha; Beijing seeks ‘clean break’ from ETIM

Doha/Kabul, Oct 26 (UNI) China and the Afghan Taliban wrapped up two days of talks in the Qatari capital on Tuesday, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assuring help to the Afghan people to overcome their difficulties and in turn pressing the interim government to make a “clean break” with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and other terrorist organizations.

On Tuesday, Wang Yi met with Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of the Afghan interim government, in Doha.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, released a video on his Twitter account on Tuesday, which showed Muttaqi presenting a gift to Wang Yi and the two shaking hands.

The two sides have agreed to set up three separate joint committees to facilitate strengthening of bilateral relations.

According to Mujahid, the first committee will deal with political and diplomatic relations and issues, the second one will be assigned to follow up with bilateral cooperation and making agreements, and the third committee will address economic ties, including the excavation of mines in Afghanistan, Khaama news agency reported.

“China announced $1 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and announced food ingredients and medicine worth of $5 million,” said Mujahid in an audio clip.

Earlier, the first Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan Mullah Baradar met with the Chinese FM Wang Yi in the Qatari capital and discussed bilateral political and economic issues.

According to the Islamic Emirate’s political office in Doha, Abdul Ghani Baradar assured Beijing that Afghan territory will never be use against any country and the Chinese delegation in return pledged to not interfere to Afghanistan’s affairs.

Wang expressing hope that the interim Afghan Taliban government will fulfill promises on making a clean break with the “East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM)” and other terrorist organizations.

“Wang emphasised that the ‘East Turkestan Islamic Movement’ (ETIM), an international terrorist organisation listed by the UN Security Council, not only poses a real threat to China’s national security and territorial integrity, but also jeopardises the domestic stability and long-term stability in Afghanistan,” Xinhua said.

China blames the ETIM of inciting separatism in Xinjiang province.
China’s foreign ministry said the talks will “provide an opportunity to have an in-depth exchange of views on Afghanistan’s situation and issues of joint concern.”

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that China has always showed a willingness to negotiate and work for the development of Afghanistan, and the country is attempting to assist Afghans.

Wang had met Baradar in July this year, days before the Taliban took over Kabul, when Beijing had raised the issue of the ETIM. The meeting had taken place in Tianjin in China.
China has kept its embassy open in Kabul since the Taliban takeover of Kabul on August 15.