Photo taken on Aug. 22, 2021 shows foreign forces at the entering gate of Kabul airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: Xinhua

Senior Chinese diplomats including Yang Jiechi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, on Tuesday stressed the political settlement on the Afghan issue, condemned US' wanton sanctions on Afghanistan, and called on the international community to help the nation to enhance its ability to achieve self-development.

Attending the 11th BRICS Meeting of National Security Advisors on Tuesday via video link at the invitation of India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Yang stressed that political settlement is the only way out. 

The international community should respect the will and choice of the Afghan people and encourage Afghanistan to build a broad and inclusive political structure that suits its national conditions, Yang said.

Efforts must be made to fight terrorism in all its forms, and Afghanistan must never again become a gathering place for terrorist and extremist forces, Yang noted.

Wang Yi and Dutch Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag exchanged their views on the situation in Afghanistan as well as bilateral ties in a telephone conversation on Tuesday.

Noting that Afghanistan faces multiple challenges in the future, Wang said complex conflicts of ethnic groups and religious sects, poverty and refugee issues need to be resolved and risks of a civil war triggered by regional conflicts must be avoided.

He said that the international community now is gradually forming a consensus on Afghanistan that is to build an open and inclusive political structure, implement moderate domestic and foreign policies and thoroughly disassociate from all terrorist groups.

Wang said that as the initiator of the Afghan issue, the US should not simply walk away or impose sanctions on Afghanistan. The official added that it is US' responsibility to properly handle chaos around the Kabul airport, provide necessary economic, humanitarian assistances to Afghanistan and help realize smooth transition in the country through concrete actions.

Wang said that China understands European countries' concerns over Afghanistan and hopes the European side can contribute to peace, stability and development of Afghanistan, noting that China hails the Netherlands aid to United Nations (UN)' Afghan humanitarian fund.

In addition, Ambassador Chen Xu, China's Permanent Representative to the UN Office at Geneva, made a statement at the Special Session of the Human Rights Council on Afghanistan on Tuesday.

The situation in Afghanistan has undergone major changes, said Chen, noting that the top priority at this moment is to restore peace, stability and order at an early date. The safety and interests of Afghan civilians and foreign nationals must be guaranteed. The rights and interests of diplomatic missions and personnel in Afghanistan are inviolable, according to the ambassador.

China has noted that the Afghan Taliban has said publicly through different channels that they will resolve the problems people are facing, meet people's aspirations and stay committed to forming an open and inclusive Islamic government. They have announced that former government staff members will be pardoned and women's rights and interests would be protected, including freedom of expression, right to employment and access to education, said the statement.

China encourages and hopes that the Afghan Taliban will follow through its positive statements, unite with all parties and ethnic groups in Afghanistan, establish an open and inclusive political framework that fits its national conditions and wins public support through dialogue and consultation, and adopt moderate and prudent domestic and foreign policies, Chen said.

It is also hoped that the Afghan Taliban will curb all kinds of terrorist and criminal acts, ensure a smooth transition, and enable the war-torn Afghan people to leave war and turmoil and rebuild their homeland as soon as possible, Chen noted.

Chen pointed out that the US and a few other countries, under the pretext of democracy and human rights, conducted military interventions in sovereign states, imposed their own models on them despite cultural and historical differences. Such acts have seriously undermined the sovereignty and territorial integrity of those countries and brought severe disasters to their people, said Chen. "This indeed is a profound lesson," he stressed, noting that "It has been proven again that power politics and military means lead nowhere. On the contrary, they only undermine regional security and stability and violate human rights of the local people."

Chen said military personnel of the US, the UK and Australia must be held accountable for their violations of human rights in Afghanistan, and the resolution of this Special Session should cover this issue.

China has always respected the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, adhered to non-interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs and pursued a friendly policy toward the entire Afghan people. China stands ready to continue to develop good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation with Afghanistan and play a constructive role in Afghanistan's peace and reconstruction, according to the statement.

Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of Chinese Foregin Ministry said at a press conference on Tuesday that the US and its allies should learn from the past experience, and deeply reflect upon and act prudently on Afghanistan-related issues. Wang called on the international community to encourage and work for the positive developments of the Afghan situation, support peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan, and help the nation to improve people's livelihood and enhance its ability to achieve self-development. 

Global Times