The Afghan Foreign Ministry on Wednesday issued a statement regarding the visit of a delegation from the Taliban to China that China informed the Afghan government of the delegation’s visit and expressed concern about the presence of foreign terrorists alongside the group.
The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday that the Chinese government’s goal is to invite a Taliban delegation to Beijing to express China’s concern about the security situation in Afghanistan, the presence of foreign fighters and terrorists alongside the Taliban, and the Chinese government’s support for peace talks and political agreement.
The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that during the meeting, the Chinese government expressed its deep concern over the recent Taliban attacks in Afghanistan, which have resulted in the increasing killing of innocent people and the displacement of tens of thousands more in the country, and called on the Taliban to accept a political solution and relations and cut themselves off with regional and international terrorists.
The announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan states that given the common security threats and common political and economic interests and the dialogue between Afghan and Chinese officials, Afghanistan expects the Chinese government to strengthen regional consensus and put international pressure on the Taliban to end violence, establish a ceasefire, ensure peace and an end to the presence of foreign terrorists in Afghanistan.
Afghan news sources quoted the Taliban office in Doha, Qatar, as saying that a nine-member Taliban delegation headed by Mullah Baradar had left for China at the official invitation.