Afghan security force members take part in a military operation against Taliban militants in Alishing district of Laghman province, eastern Afghanistan, on July 12, 2021. Taliban militants have been intensifying activities to capture more districts, as the U.S. troops are completing the pull-out from Afghanistan. In the meantime, Afghan security forces have been conducting counter-offensives to foil the militant group's efforts.(Photo: Xinhua)

 
Taliban, as a major military force in Afghanistan, should realize the responsibilities it bears for the nation, make a clean break with all terrorist forces and return to the mainstream of Afghan politics, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday. 

Wang made the remarks during a joint press conference with Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin following their talks in Dushanbe.

Wang said that the Afghan government has done a lot of work for national unity, social stability and improvement of people's livelihood, which should be justly evaluated.

China expects Afghanistan to establish a broadly inclusive political arrangement, pursue a solid Muslim policy, resolutely combat all terrorism and extremist ideologies, and be committed to friendly relations with all neighboring countries, Wang said. 

Wang stressed three priorities for Afghanistan. First, to avoid the further spread of the war in Afghanistan, especially an all-out civil war. Second, restart intra-Afghan negotiations as soon as possible and realize political reconciliation. Third, prevent all kinds of terrorist forces from gaining ground in Afghanistan.

China supports and expects all parties in Afghanistan to follow the principle of "Afghan-owned and Afghan-led," bear in mind Afghanistan's fundamental and long-term interests, build a political system that suits Afghanistan's national conditions and is supported by the Afghan people, Wang said. 

He said Afghanistan is an independent and sovereign country. History shows that any coercive intervention in Afghanistan is bound to fail.

Wang urged the US to reflect on its role on Afghan issue and how it will meet its obligations for Afghanistan's reconciliation and reconstruction.

Wang Yi is on a scheduled visit to Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan this week, and he is scheduled to attend the meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)-Afghanistan Contact Group. 

This SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group meeting was elevated to the foreign minister level this week for the first time since it was established in 2005, Chinese observers said, noting this indicates the urgency of the Afghanistan situation and the great attention and consensus of SCO countries to have a thorough discussion. Six of Afghanistan's neighbors are members of the SCO.

Global Times