Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
AT Monitoring Desk
KABUL: China on Monday pledged its support for the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement in Afghanistan and called for the “orderly and responsible” withdrawal of foreign troops to avoid a power vacuum and possible terrorist resurgence.
Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the reconciliation process should be “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned,” despite the Taliban’s refusal thus far to negotiate directly with Afghanistan’s elected government.
China shares a narrow border with Afghanistan into its volatile Xinjiang region. China has also provided aid to the Afghan government and is seeking to profit by helping develop the country’s deposits of copper and other minerals, (AP) reported.
“We welcome the agreement between the U.S. and Taliban and believe it is of a positive significance for the final political resolution of the Afghan issue,” Zhao said.
“China believes that foreign troops stationed in Afghanistan should be withdrawn in an orderly and responsible way, which will ensure a steady transition in the Afghan situation, avoid a security vacuum, and leave no chance to terrorist organizations strengthening themselves.”
Zhao said China was willing to “continue to be a supporter, mediator and facilitator of the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan,” a reference to its friendly ties with Afghanistan’s successive governments since the toppling of the Taliban government by the U.S. more than 18 years ago.
The U.S. on Saturday signed a peace agreement with the insurgents to end the costly war and bring American troops home, opening the way for the first negotiations between the militants and the troubled Afghan government, which is dependent on U.S. and other foreign backing.
