MONITORING (SW) – Afghanistan’s Taliban is eager to have dialogue with the international community, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi virtually said at a conference held in Iran.
“The Taliban is eager to have dialogue with the world … China will host the third Neighbours of Afghanistan meeting at the appropriate time,” Wang said in a pre-recorded message broadcast live by Iranian state TV.
The Chinese foreign minister also urged the international community to help Afghanistan’s development.
Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber inaugurated the meeting, replacing President Ebrahim Raisi who was unable to do so due to “another urgent priority”. The conference came a day after Iran’s online petrol distribution software was hacked in a massive cyberattack that affected petrol stations across the country.
Mokhber told the conference that the “defeat of American policies” in Afghanistan does not mean that the United States is abandoning its “destructive” policies across the region.
ISIL (ISIS), which Mokhber referred to as the “US proxy force in the region”, has now targeted security in Afghanistan with the aim of instigating a civil war, he added.
He was followed by the United Nations chief, Antonio Guterres, who said in a video link address recorded in New York that Afghanistan is facing an “epic humanitarian crisis” which demands immediate action. He said the UN is engaging the Taliban, which has so far provided access, to deliver humanitarian relief to people.
Guterres also said he is “deeply disturbed” by violations of human rights and attacks in the country since the Taliban takeover, and called for efforts to “combat terrorism” and drug trafficking.
All seven foreign ministers delivered a public address before retreating to a private meeting to agree on a joint statement, reported Al-Jazeera.
They all welcomed the conference and emphasised on the necessity of continued cooperation by the neighbouring states to avoid a collapse or civil war in Afghanistan, which would have severe ramifications for the region and beyond.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed willingness for hosting the next meeting at a yet undecided time. Wednesday’s talks follow a virtual meeting in early September between the foreign ministers that was hosted by Pakistan.
Yi said senior Taliban officials had told him during a recent meeting in Qatar’s capital, Doha, that the group “takes seriously the cause of the international community” and is ready to take positive action.
“My overall impression is that the Taliban is eager to have dialogue and cooperation with the outside, and that they are serious about this,” he said.
Yi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian also called on the US to lift its unilateral sanctions affecting Afghanistan, saying the failing Afghan economy requires extensive support.
The conference also saw an emphasis on the need to form an inclusive government in Afghanistan. The participants further backed humanitarian relief for the population, as much as 90 percent of whom could fall below the poverty line by next year if the current situation continues.
More support by international organisations, including the UN and the World Health Organization, was underlined by the participants to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and other health and humanitarian issues in Afghanistan
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