Qatar to host China-Afghanistan moot

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China’s State Councilor Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet a delegation of Afghanistan interim government during his visit to Qatar on Oct. 25-26, Beijing said Monday.

The two sides will exchange views on the situation in Afghanistan and other topics of concern for both sides, Chinese daily Global Times quoted China’s Foreign Ministry as saying.

“It is a continuation of communication between the two sides since their meeting in north China’s Tianjin in July,” the report added.

Last week, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesman for the Taliban’s interim Foreign Ministry, had said Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will meet his counterpart, Wang Yi, though he had not revealed the time and date for the meeting.

It will be the first high-level engagement between China and Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in August amid the complete withdrawal of foreign forces from the war-torn country.

“As a traditional friendly neighbor and partner of Afghanistan, China has always advocated dialogue to tide through difficulties,” Wang Wenbin, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Early in July, Wang had hosted a nine-member Taliban delegation led by Mullah Baradar Akhund in Tianjin city where the Chinese foreign minister had said the Taliban have an “important role” in Afghanistan’s peace, reconciliation, and reconstruction process.

Until now, the interim Afghan government has held meetings at the Foreign Ministry level with Qatar, Uzbekistan, Turkey, and Pakistan.