China held two meetings on Afghanistan in the ancient eastern town of Tunxi in the Anhui province on Thursday. The first meeting, hosted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, involved the foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighbours—Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The meeting was also attended by the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Wang also separately hosted the second meeting, which was attended by representatives of the Extended Troika for Afghanistan—the United States (US), Russia, Pakistan, and China.
Joint Statement of the Foreign Ministers Meeting Among the Neighbouring Countries of Afghanistan
The FMs of all countries pledged to support Afghanistan in the political, economic and humanitarian, and security fields and also vowed to support Afghan refugees and help in institution building in the war-torn country.
The statement reaffirmed their “respect for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan,” and stressed on the importance of the principle of an “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned” development process.
The diplomats also stressed that a “peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan serves the common interests of regional countries and Afghanistan” and vowed to “jointly play a constructive role to this end.” They underscored the need for Kabul to maintain friendly ties with all countries, especially its neighbours and to “establish a broad-based and inclusive political structure” in the domestic sphere.
The statement also urged the Taliban to take continuing steps to ensure women’s rights and children’s education as well as “safeguard the fundamental rights of all Afghans, including ethnic groups, women and children.”
Next, the statement expressed concern over the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the country and called on the United Nations to “step up emergency humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.” Furthermore, the diplomats stated that their countries would work with Afghanistan to unleash its economic potential and commit to deepening Kabul’s participation in global economic frameworks like China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
In the field of security, the statement noted the pledge made by the Taliban to prevent its territory from being used for terrorist activities and stressed that Afghanistan and neighbouring countries will work together to prevent the emergence of terrorist groups in the region, including ISIS, Al Qaeda, and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM).
In this regard, the diplomats said that it was considering a proposal made by Tajikistan to create a security belt around Afghanistan. Moreover, the statement said that Kabul’s neighbours are keen to conduct counterterrorism and security drills with Afghanistan.
Finally, the statement said it would help Afghan refugees and called on the international community to provide financial support for refugees.
Eight-Pronged Consensus Reached at the Meeting
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi expounds on the 8-point consensus of the 3rd Foreign Ministers' Meeting Among the Neighboring Countries of #Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/eOg4y9gKHv
— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) April 1, 2022
FM Wang summarised the eight-pronged consensus reached by Afghanistan’s neighbours:
One, respect for Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and independence.
Two, the need for a broad-based and inclusive Afghan government.
Three, dismantling of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.
Four, provision of humanitarian assistance for Afghans.
Five, oppose sanctions and politicisation of humanitarian aid.
Six, the United States should fulfil its primary responsibility for the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.
Seven, support for the UN’s role in Afghanistan.
Eight, promote the implementation of outcomes of meetings on the Afghan crisis.
Statement by Chinese FM Wang Yi
Noting that Afghanistan is at a “critical stage” as it moves from the path of “chaos to stability,” Wang said that the country has been presented with a “historic opportunity” to truly shape its future.
Wang thus urged the Taliban to see its neighbours as “friends and partners” and cooperate with them to promote “stable development [and] lasting security” in Afghanistan and the region.
In this regard, Wang reiterated the need for Afghanistan to form an inclusive government, for the international community to step up their humanitarian support and eliminate terrorism.
Statement by Pakistani FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi
Pleased to attend 3rd meeting of Neighbouring Countries of #Afghanistan. Appreciate the substantive exchange of views & way forward on many facets of situation in Afg. Indeed we initiated this format last year based on imp of neighbouring countries unifying for a common approach. pic.twitter.com/f35KV9Bmjk
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) March 31, 2022
During a meeting with Wang and Taliban FM Muttaqi, Qureshi said Pakistan supports joint efforts to support Afghanistan and vowed to work in tandem with Kabul’s neighbours in this regard.
He also stressed the need for more talks on Afghanistan at the FM level and supporting economic connectivity in the region. “Pakistan supports Afghanistan in strengthening engagement with the outside world and actively responding to the concerns of the international community,” Qureshi said.
Statement by Taliban FM Amir Khan Muttaqi
Acting FM of the Afghan Interim Gov Amir Khan Muttaqi: Afghanistan understands the int'l comm's concerns over the rights & interests of women & children, especially girls' education. Girls has never been banned from attending school. 60% of schools has so far been reopened. pic.twitter.com/tOpGKvsWqz
— XIE Yongjun 解勇军 (@XIEYongjun_CHN) March 31, 2022
Muttaqi said the FMs meeting opened a new opportunity for Afghanistan to enhance cooperation with its neighbours. He stressed that “Afghanistan wants economic cooperation instead of donation” and seeks to “connect South Asia to Central Asia via a transit route as well as to export Afghan products to China and India via Pakistan.”
Muttaqi also said that Afghanistan supports China’s BRI and “is eager to play a beneficial role in the region through the project.”
“Afghanistan would like to solemnly promise once again to China, Pakistan and the whole world that it will never allow terrorists to use Afghan territory to harm other countries’ interests and citizens,” he added.
He also addressed concerns over the Taliban's decision to ban girls from high school. “Afghanistan understands the international community’s concerns over the rights and interests of women and children, especially girls’ education, and will actively seek progress step by step,” Muttaqi said. However, he claimed that the Taliban has “never banned girls from attending school and has so far reopened 60 per cent of schools.”
Statement by Iranian FM Hossein Amir Abdollahian
#Iran’s FM @Amirabdolahian and Amir Khan Mutaqi, acting Foreign Minister of #Afghanistan’s ruling system, held talks over issues of mutual interest on the sidelines of the conference of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighbors in Tuxi, China. pic.twitter.com/TDG6DRkKuR
— Iran Foreign Ministry 🇮🇷 (@IRIMFA_EN) March 31, 2022
Saying that the US occupation is the “root cause” of Afghanistan’s problems, Abdollahian stressed on the need for independent development. In this regard, he emphasised that Tehran is ready to help Kabul in this process, especially by providing humanitarian support and hosting refugees.
“A united message and robust action by Afghanistan’s neighbours could help Afghanistan exit the status quo and play an important and constructive role in drawing a regional security system,” Abdollahian noted.
Warning that Afghanistan’s people and its neighbours will be the first victims in the event of a destructive situation in the country, Abdollahian said, “We should all join hands to prevent Afghanistan from turning once again into a battleground for political and military conflicts.”
Statement by Russian FM Sergey Lavrov
🇷🇺 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov takes part in the Third Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan's Neighbouring Countries 🇦🇫
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) March 31, 2022
📍 Tunxi, China pic.twitter.com/63tGkhjsCe
Lavrov said that despite pressure from the US and the West, the new Afghan government has “managed to keep the state afloat.” Noting that the Taliban has been “working proactively to expand its diplomatic and economic ties,” Lavrov mentioned that Russia is keen on expanding its political and economic cooperation with Afghanistan.
“In this connection, I would like to note that the first Afghan diplomat, representing the new government, who arrived in Moscow last month has been accredited at the Russian Foreign Ministry,” he said.
Moreover, Lavrov called on the international community to recognise the Taliban, provided that the group represents the interests of Afghanistan’s diverse ethnic groups, minorities, and political forces.
Lavrov also blamed the West for creating the Afghan crisis. “After 20 years of NATO’s military presence and the failed experiment to impose prescriptions and values which were totally alien to the Afghan people, the “collective West” bears direct responsibility for the current humanitarian situation and the deplorable state of the Afghan economy,” he underscored.
He also condemned US President Joe Biden’s decision to block half of the assets held by Afghanistan’s central bank and expressed doubts about the US’ commitment to Afghanistan. He accused the US of “preventing Afghan financial operators from resuming their work with the international banking system.”
Against this backdrop, he urged Afghanistan’s neighbours to strengthen regional cooperation and come up with consolidated approaches to promoting recovery and normalisation in Afghanistan in all spheres.”
Meeting of the Extended Troika
FM Wang chaired a separate meeting of the Extended Troika in Tunxi on Thursday and said that China, the US, Russia and Pakistan are “important stakeholders in the Afghan issue and also countries with important influence on Afghanistan.”
Noting that the situation in Afghanistan has undergone new changes, Wang said, “Under the new circumstances, the four sides should adjust work direction, support Afghanistan’s efforts to rebuild the country and improve people’s livelihood, and promote Afghanistan to respond positively to the expectations of the international community.”
Wang put forward three steps to ensure that the Troika functions properly.
One, Troika countries should “strengthen cooperation, expand consensus, properly handle differences and send a consistent positive signal to the outside world.”
Two, the Troika should take a pragmatic approach regarding Afghanistan. “In particular, the US should take practical action on unfreezing Afghanistan's overseas assets and lifting unreasonable sanctions,” he said.
Three, the Troika should “actively explore solutions to difficult issues” and “promote the China-U.S.-Russia Consultation Mechanism to play an effective role in Afghanistan’s peace, reconstruction and people’s well-being.”
Over seven months since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan following the hasty exit of US troops, Afghanistan is facing a humanitarian crisis and is on the brink of economic collapse. In this respect, the UN has urged the international community to actively help Afghanistan by providing more funding and resources.