KABUL – In a bold diplomatic move, China is calling on the international community to intensify interactions with the interim administration led by the Taliban in Kabul. This pivotal statement from Beijing follows President Xi Jinping accepting credentials from the newly appointed Afghan envoy, marking a significant step in acknowledging the regime, despite its UN-designated terrorist affiliations.

Xi Jinping’s official acceptance of Bilal Karimi as the ambassador to Beijing, representing the so-called Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, highlights China’s commitment to diplomatic relations. This reciprocal gesture aligns with the Taliban’s earlier welcome of the Chinese ambassador, Zhao Sheng, in September 2023.

Downplaying concerns about diplomatic protocol, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin emphasized that the acceptance of ambassadorial credentials is a routine diplomatic arrangement. China, as a traditionally friendly neighbor, urges the global community to actively engage with the Afghan interim government, encouraging a response to international concerns, participation in reconstruction, and decisive action against terrorist forces.

This strategic move underscores China’s unwavering policy on Afghanistan, emphasizing diplomatic ties, exchanges, and cooperation. Asadullah Bilal Karimi, the new Afghan ambassador, was among the 42 presenting credentials to President Xi on Tuesday.

China, the first country to appoint a new ambassador to Afghanistan last September, maintains its stance of respecting Afghanistan’s national sovereignty. The nation refrains from commenting on the evolving women’s rights situation post the Taliban’s resurgence. Notably, China already manages mining contracts in Afghanistan, a country strategically included in President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Amidst accusations of exploitative practices, China’s involvement in Afghanistan through the Belt and Road Initiative occurred during the tenure of the democratically-elected President Ashraf Ghani. However, the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 has not garnered recognition from any UN member states for the interim administration.

This call to action from China comes at a time when few countries are actively engaging with the Taliban, signaling a potentially transformative shift in international dynamics.

Culled from Afghanistan Times