CPEC important for Afghanistan: Zabiullah Mujahid

He assured Pakistan that it will not have any threat from Afghanistan.

KABUL (Dunya News) – Spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Zabihullah Mujahid on Friday said that extension of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by linking it with Afghanistan is very important.

Speaking at the Pak-Afghan Youth Forum s International Conference titled "Rebuilding Afghanistan Together" via video link, the spokesperson hoped that Pakistan s help to the Afghan nation will continue in terms of its peace efforts and increasing the bilateral trade and commerce.

“We have appealed the government of Pakistan for cooperation,” he said.

Mujahid said that Afghanistan appreciates the longstanding contributions of Pakistan towards the Afghan people.

He assured Pakistan that it will not have any threat from Afghanistan.

China most important partner

Earlier, in an interview published in an Italian newspaper on Thursday, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that the group looks at China as the "most important partner" and will primarily be relying on financing from China.

"China represents a fundamental and extraordinary opportunity for us because it is ready to invest and rebuild our country," La Repubblica quoted Mujahid as saying.

Mujahid also said that  One Belt One Road , an infrastructure initiative by China to open trade routes, is "held in high regard by the Taliban." There are "rich copper mines in the country, which, thanks to the Chinese, can be put back into operation and modernised. In addition, China is our pass to markets all over the world," said Mujahid in the interview.

He also confirmed that women will be allowed to continue studying at universities in future. He said women would be able to work as nurses, in the police or as assistants in ministries, but ruled out that there would be female ministers in the new government.

Chinese embassy

Earlier, a Taliban spokesman said that China has promised to keep its embassy in Afghanistan open and to increase humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged country.

Abdul Salam Hanafi, a member of the Islamist group s political office in Doha, Qatar, "held a phone conversation with Wu Jianghao, Deputy Foreign Minister of the People s Republic of China," spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted.

"The Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister said that they would maintain their embassy in Kabul, adding our relations would beef up as compared to the past. Afghanistan can play an important role in security and development of the region," he said.

"China will also continue and increase its humanitarian assistance especially for treatment of covid-19," the spokesman continued.

When asked at a press briefing on Friday, Beijing said its embassy in Afghanistan is "an important channel for exchanges between the two countries" and is "in normal operation."

"We hope the Taliban will establish an open and inclusive political structure, pursue moderate and stable domestic and foreign policy and make a clean break with all terrorist groups," said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.

Much of the world has adopted a wait-and-see approach to engagement with the Taliban as they shift gears from Islamist insurgent group to governing power.

But China has repeatedly slammed what it sees as a hasty and ill-planned withdrawal from Afghanistan by the United States, and has said it is ready to deepen "friendly and cooperative" relations with the Taliban following their takeover.

The Chinese embassy in Kabul remains operational, although Beijing began evacuating Chinese citizens from the country months ago as security deteriorated.

But Beijing has not yet recognised the Taliban as the de facto government, and is wary of the militant group providing support to Muslim-minority Uyghur separatists looking to infiltrate its sensitive border region of Xinjiang.

For Beijing, a stable and cooperative administration in Kabul would pave the way for an expansion of its overseas infrastructure drive, analysts say.

The Taliban, meanwhile, may consider China a crucial source of investment and economic support.

Chinese companies have also been eyeing Afghanistan s vast copper and lithium mines, but experts say the perilous security situation means any immediate commodities rush by investors is unlikely.