Help Taliban combat terror, China urges US

KABUL (Pajhwok): China has asked the United States to eschew double standards and initiate concrete actions to help Afghanistan battle the scourge of terrorism.

Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi issued the call during a phone call with US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, the Global Times reported.

The phone conversation comes a fortnight after Wang and Blinken conferred on the situation in Afghanistan on August 16.

The situation in Afghanistan had fundamentally changed and it was necessary for all parties to engage with and guide the Taliban, the Chinese minister noted.

He remarked: “Facts have proved once again that the Afghan war has not achieved its goal of eradicating terrorist forces in Afghanistan.

Wang warned the hasty withdrawal of US and NATO forces could provide opportunities for various terrorist groups in Afghanistan to return.

He urged the US to take concrete actions to help combat terrorism in Afghanistan. He also stressed respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and independence.

For his part, Blinken believed the UN Security Council should send a unified voice to express the expectation of the international community that the Taliban should ensure the safe evacuation of foreigners and guarantee that the Afghan people would receive humanitarian aid.

PAN Monitor/mud