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KABUL – Taliban government declared on Friday that China had officially accepted its ambassador to Beijing, marking a crucial milestone in bypassing the west in forming official strategic ties. While the announcement awaits confirmation from China, if true, it would make China the first country to host a Taliban ambassador since the group regained power from the American-backed government in Kabul two years ago.
Despite no formal recognition from China or any other nation for the de facto Afghan administration, the Taliban’s official foreign ministry statement revealed that Hong Lei, the director-general of the protocol department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, accepted the credentials from the newly appointed ambassador, Asadullah Bilal Karimi. Hong emphasized that Karimi’s arrival signifies an “important step in further strengthening and expanding the positive relations” between Beijing and Kabul.
During the meeting on Friday, Hong stressed China’s respect for Afghanistan’s national sovereignty and the decisions made by its people, emphasizing that China does not interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan. Karimi, in turn, assured the Chinese side that there is no threat to anyone from Afghanistan’s territory and underscored the importance of regional stability and security for all.
At the age of early 30s, Karimi, who recently served as the deputy spokesman at the Taliban-led information ministry, brings a fresh perspective to diplomatic engagements. The development comes as China aims to sustain its close engagement with the Taliban, seeking to prevent Afghanistan from descending into chaos, which could potentially pose security threats to China.
It is worth noting that the international community continues to observe the evolving dynamics in the region, particularly regarding diplomatic ties and potential implications for regional stability.
