China announced that its decision to extend diplomatic recognition to the Taliban in Afghanistan will be made only after the formation of a government that is “open, inclusive, and broadly representative”.
In response to a question about when China might recognise the Taliban insurgents, which have taken control of Afghanistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, “China’s position on the Afghan issue is consistent and clear.”
“If we have to recognise a government, the first thing is that we will need to wait until the government is formed,” cleared Zhao.
He added: “We hope there will be an open, inclusive and broadly representative regime in Afghanistan. Only after that, we will come to the question of diplomatic recognition.”
The Chinese official reiterated that besides appointing an “open and inclusive” government in consultation with other factions, the Taliban should also keep their word not to support any terrorist groups, especially the Uygur militant group of East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM).
Zhao said that the Taliban’s most important task is the restoration of peace. He said that while referring to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid’s press conference in Kabul in which he announced a general amnesty for those who worked for the Afghan government and supported women’s rights “within the framework of Islamic law”.
“We have noted the statement from the Afghan Taliban. We hope it will work with other factions at home through dialogue and consultation and establish an inclusive and open political framework and adopt moderate and prudent domestic and foreign policy and ensure that personnel and institutions of other countries in Afghanistan will be safe,” Zhao said.
“At the same time, we hope the Afghan Taliban will firmly fight the terrorist forces, including the ETIM, and earnestly implement its commitment not to allow any force to use the Afghan territory to engage in terrorist acts detrimental to China,” he said.
An al Qaeda affiliate, ETIM is a militant group based in China’s volatile Xinjiang province. It is fighting to gain independence of the province, which has more than 10 million Uyghur Muslims.
In 2002, the UNSC al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee had listed ETIM as a terrorist organisation.
