The diplomatic rivalry that often defines US-China relationship seems to be echoing in Afghanistan.
While the US has pulled out its soldiers and threatening the Taliban government in some areas, China may have seen a vacuum to fill – even if not militarily.
AFP reports that a Taliban spokesman said on Friday that China hds promised to keep its embassy in Afghanistan open and to increase humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged country.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, a member of the Islamist group’s political office in Doha, Qatar, “held a phone conversation with Wu Jianghao, Deputy Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China,” spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted.
“The Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister said that they would maintain their embassy in Kabul, adding our relations would beef up as compared to the past… China will also continue and increase its humanitarian assistance especially for treatment of covid-19,” AFP quoted him as writing.
