China has offered $31m worth of emergency aid to Afghanistan after the Taliban announced an interim government weeks after the group rose to power.
In a virtual meeting of foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Afghanistan was “standing at the crossroads” amidst the humanitarian crises on top of the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
Wang said the emergency aid package will include grain, winter supplies, medicines as well as three million COVID-19 vaccine doses.
He said that China is ready to assist Afghanistan to keep its port gates open. It is critical to assist the Taliban government in managing the refugees and migrants and the deepening anti-terrorism and anti-narcotics cooperation, Wang added.
Wang urged the attending foreign ministers from Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan to strengthen intelligence-sharing and border-control cooperation to catch and eliminate terrorist groups to ensure regional security and stability. He also urged the Taliban to cut ties with all “extreme forces” in the country and neutralize the elements that may destabilize the country.
Wang also took a swipe at the US and its allies saying the invading countries have a duty to help Afghanistan, especially after the exit of the American troops.
He said, “The common view of the international community is that the end of military intervention by the United States and its allies should be the beginning of them assuming their responsibilities.”
“They are more obligated than any other country to provide economic, livelihood and humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, and help Afghanistan maintain stability, prevent chaos and move toward sound development on the premise of respecting the sovereignty and independence of Afghanistan,” Wang added.
Since the Taliban took power, they have expressed an inclination toward China saying Beijing will be its “main partner” in rebuilding the war-torn country as China shares a small strip of land border with Afghanistan.
Earlier, China welcomed the end of “three weeks of anarchy” saying that the formation of the new interim government is of “great importance.”
