Daily Times

KABUL: A high-level delegation of Taliban from their Qatar political bureau recently visited China and held talks with the Chinese officials on different issues, sources said on Friday.

It was the first visit of a Taliban delegation to any country after the installation of Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada as the new Taliban amir.

“The delegation visited China for discussion on issues related to Afghanistan and China. The delegation discussed [possibilities of] adopting a joint stand against occupation in the region and malicious policies of occupant countries. Talks were also held on the Islamic emirate policy,” a Taliban official, who wished not to be named, told the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP).

Asked whether the visit was on China’s invitation or the Taliban’s demand, he said, “Numerous countries want to have meeting with the Islamic emirate. The Islamic emirate wants good relations with the [Afghanistan’s] neighbours and countries of the world. The Chinese officials’ demand was included in the visit. Both the Islamic emirate and Chinese officials discussed the recent changes.”

Similar visits and meeting may also be held with other countries, because the Islamic emirate was trying to make its stance clear to the world, he added.

The Taliban official did not disclose the names of the members of the delegation.

Meanwhile, Qari Hamza, a spokesman for a Taliban breakaway group, Fidayee Mahaz, told AIP that the delegation consisted of two Taliban leaders, including Sher Muhammad Abbas.

He said the Taliban team visited China on July 18 and returned to Qatar on July 22.

Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanekzai was appointed as head of the Taliban’s Qatar political bureau last year after Tayyab Agha stepped down.

The visit of the Taliban team to China shows that like in the past, the Taliban still have strong relations with the world, and the death of Mullah Omar and Mullah Mansour had not affected their movement.

China is a member of the Quadrilateral Contact Group (QCG) on Afghanistan peace and reconciliation process. A two-member Taliban delegation had also visited China in November.