China, Pakistan again ask US to release Afghan assets

KABUL (Pajhwok): China and Pakistan have once again asked the United States to return Afghanistan’s foreign reserves immediately.

The call came at a meeting among the foreign ministers of the three countries in the Tunxi district of Anhui province on Wednesday.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the three countries as traditional friendly neighbours, enjoying cultural affinity.

He said the three nations had created the ancient Silk Road civilisation and made important contributions to the East-West integration.

Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi commended China for hosting important huddles on the situation in Afghanistan.

Pakistan was ready to continue helping Afghanistan improve its people’s living standards, Qureshi said. Afghanistan’s frozen overseas assets be returned immediately, he stressed.

Muttaqi hailed China for providing Afghanistan with opportunities for dialogue and exchanges with neighbours.

Ready to develop cooperative relations with friendly countries, Afghanistan was trying to achieve stability and boost its economy, the acting minister said.

Muttaqi added his country understood the international community’s concerns about the rights and interests of women and children, especially girls’ education.

He promised the Taliban administration would actively seek gradual progress in these areas. The Taliban had never banned girls from attending school, he insisted.

Afghanistan would never allow terrorists to use Afghan territory to harm other countries’ interests and citizens, the foreign minister pledged.

PAN Monitor/mud