fredag 10. september 2021

China extends a fast helping hand to the Taliban

China has reassured the Taliban that it is ready to begin development activities in Afghanistan via its ambitious multi-trillion-dollar Belt and Road initiative (BRI), as the war-torn country drifts toward an economic meltdown. In what some see as Beijing’s tacit approval of the Afghan militant group’s interim government, China announced on Wednesday (September 8) US$31 million in aid for Afghanistan, saying the funds were a “necessary step” to restore order and “end anarchy.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China would donate grain, winter supplies, vaccines and medicines worth 200 million yuan ($31 million) while addressing the Pakistan-hosted first virtual foreign ministers meeting of Afghanistan’s neighbors.