China, Russia, Pakistan envoys hold talks with top Taliban officials

Special envoys of China, Russia and Pakistan have met top officials of the interim administration and other senior Afghan leaders to discuss the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a news briefing on Wednesday that the envoys had held talks in Kabul with acting Prime Minister Mohammad Hasan Akhund and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqias well as other high-level Taliban officials over the past two days.

They also met with former President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, the president of the Council for National Reconciliation under the previous government.

Zhao said they discussed the situation especially regarding the inclusiveness of government, human rights, economic and humanitarian matters and friendly relations with Afghanistan.

“They had an in-depth and constructive discussion and also expressed support to combating terrorism and drug crimes,” he added.

“Taliban said they highly valued the relations with the three countries and they play a responsible role in consolidating the stability in Afghanistan. The three countries called on more humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan from the international community.”

They stressed that the US and allies shoulder the main responsibility for the economic and social reconstruction in Afghanistan and provide much-needed economic livelihood and humanitarian assistance, Zhao said.

Taliban unveils list of newly added members of cabinet ministers

The Taliban has unveiled the names of 17 individuals as the newly appointed high ranking officials for some ministries and other key governmental bodies such as the country’s directorate of atomic energy .

The three countries have agreed to maintain constructive contact with the Taliban to promote peace, prosperity, regional stability and development, he said.

In their talks with Karzai and Abdullah, they discussed issues related to stability in Afghanistan, the Chinese envoy said.

“China said we will not interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and has been playing a constructive role for the political settlement of the Afghan issue. The Afghan side should make a political arrangement that is open, inclusive and exercises prudent policy.”

No government has yet recognized the Taliban’s new interim government, first demanding that it meet commitments on human rights. Some have warned against isolating Afghanistan and stressed the need for dialog.

Iran, Russia, China, Pakistan urge formation of inclusive Afghan govt.

The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, China, and Pakistan urge formation of an inclusive government in the now-Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

The Taliban demanded representation at the UN General Assembly’s high-level meeting of world leaders this week.

In a letter sent to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday, the Taliban-appointed foreign minister asked to speak in the course of the assembly’s annual session, and nominated the group’s Doha-based spokesman Suhail Shaheen as Afghanistan’s new permanent representative to the UN. He also challenged the credentials of Afghanistan’s former UN envoy.  

Following US President Joe Biden’s decision to fully withdraw the American troops from Afghanistan, the government swiftly fell in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, amid the Taliban’s seizure of the entire country.

On September 7, the Taliban announced the formation of a caretaker government.

The Taliban first ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 until the United States invaded the country and toppled the Taliban-run government in 2001 on the pretext of fighting terrorism following the September 11 attacks in the US.

Western countries and international financial organizations have suspended aid to Afghanistan, depriving it of billions of dollars needed to finance vital food imports, as the Taliban have not been recognized by the international community.

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