China, Russia have soft corner for Taliban, Pakistan is acting cautiously

At a time when the whole world was horrified by the news of the Taliban’s control of Afghanistan, the top leaders in China and Russia kept in touch with the Taliban, according to the reports.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has telephoned the foreign ministers of Russia and China to ask them to work with the United States to help deal with new developments and situations in Afghanistan but US officials may have delayed requesting such help.

Following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, China has said it “wants to increase friendship and cooperation with Afghanistan.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters that China respects the right of the Afghan people to decide their own destiny freely and they (China) are friendly with Afghanistan and wants to continue to promote mutual cooperation.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman also said that “the Taliban have expressed hope for good relations with China and that they look forward to China’s participation in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.”

The Taliban has also vowed to improve relations with China and has previously made statements that it hopes China will help develop Afghanistan.

On the other hand, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said in the briefing that the Taliban are rapidly restoring peace and appear ready for talks, they are also ready to consider women’s rights and the interests of citizens.

In response to a question, the spokesman denied the expulsion of Russian diplomatic staff from Kabul, saying that there was no intention to evacuate diplomatic staff and citizens from Afghanistan, but that there were plans for chartered planes for Russians who wanted to leave Afghanistan.

Four days after the Afghan Taliban entered Kabul, Pakistan has reiterated that the Taliban’s behaviour will affect its decision to recognize them.

Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States says Pakistan will not unilaterally recognize the Afghan Taliban government.

Recognizing the Taliban government in Afghanistan is an important decision for the world, observers say. Pakistan will not take any hasty decision in this regard.

In an interview with CBS News, Pakistan’s ambassador to Pakistan Asad Majeed Khan said how the Taliban behaved and how they functioned would also affect Pakistan’s decision.

“Islamabad is working with the international community, including the United States, and we will follow the guidance of the international community to see how things change in Afghanistan,” he said.

Regarding Pakistan’s 🇵🇰 perspective on the evolving situation in Afghanistan 🇦🇫 Ambassador ⁦@asadmk17⁩ speaks to ⁦⁦@LauraPodestaTV⁩ this morning ⁦@CBSNews⁩
Watch 📺 for details:https://t.co/k9SidoSKqr pic.twitter.com/tf6DfpHQd2

— Pakistan Embassy US (@PakinUSA) August 17, 2021

Asad Majeed Khan further said that Pakistan was watching the situation closely and would definitely work with the international community, especially the ‘Extended Troika’ to reach a point where they could be recognized.

Regarding the complication of Pakistan-US relations with the Taliban’s occupation of Kabul, Asad Majeed Khan said that Pakistan and the United States are allies who have worked closely on Afghanistan in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

He dismissed the notion that Pakistan had helped the Taliban advance towards Kabul. “A closer look at what is happening in Afghanistan shows that such an impression is wrong,” he said.

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