China hosts Taliban, calls it "important military force" ::::: Blinken lauds Indian elections, Jaishankar flays Pak

Chinese foreign minister hosts Taliban, calls it "important military and political force"

New Delhi: China sprang a surprise on Wednesday, July28, but not quite a totally unprecedented state of things too.

The China-Taliban-Pakistan axis was a known thing, but it curiously coincided on a day US Secretary of  State Antony Blinken was in India to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar to discuss a possible policy for Afghanistan.

“The Taliban in Afghanistan is a pivotal military and political force in the country and will play an important role in the process of peace, reconciliation and reconstruction there,” said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who played host to a Taliban delegation.  

"State Councilor Wang pointed out that the Taliban is an important military and political force in Afghanistan and is expected to play an important role in the country's peace, reconciliation and reconstruction process. We hope that the Afghan Taliban will put the interests of the country and nation first, hold high the banner of peace talks, set the goal of peace, build a positive image and pursue an inclusive policy," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters in Beijing.

Head of the Afghan Taliban political committee Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was in Tianjin. The heads of the Afghan Taliban's religious council and publicity committee were also on the delegation.

"The hasty withdrawal of the US and NATO troops from Afghanistan actually marks the failure of the US policy toward Afghanistan," the spokesman said.

State Councilor Wang Yi said that China, as Afghanistan's largest neighbor, has always respected Afghanistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, adhered to non-interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs and pursued a friendly policy toward the entire Afghan people. 

"Afghanistan belongs to the Afghan people, and its future should be in the hands of its own people". 

It is definitely the first time a senior commander of the Taliban organisation has visited China since the Taliban’s capture of several key districts in Badakhshan and Kandahar provinces. 

Taliban fighters have claimed to have 'taken control of around half the country' up to its border with the Chinese region of Xinjiang. 

Wang Yi also urged the Taliban to crack down on the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), an Islamic group it alleges is fuelling unrest and separatism in China’s Xinjiang province from Afghanistan.

Baradar said the Taliban is willing to establish an inclusive political structure in Afghanistan, which protects human rights as well as the rights and interests of women and children.

In 2019, China had hosted a low-profile meeting with a Taliban delegation which met Deng Xijun, the special envoy for Afghanistan.

It is said, China has always been a trustworthy friend of the Afghan people and the Taliban. This development makes clear the axis between Beijing-Islamabad and the Taliban.

The US has sought to downplay the episode.

"I think many countries in – immediately neighboring Afghanistan and in the broader region, including China, have interests in Afghanistan. No one, whether it’s the United States, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Central Asian countries – no one has an interest in Afghanistan falling into an enduring civil war. 

No one has an interest in a military takeover of the country by the Taliban, the restoration of an Islamic emirate," visiting US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, told a television channel.

Step by Step: That's Democracy !

Blinken lauds Indian elections, Jaishankar flays Pak

New Delhi:

The United States on Wednesday applauded Indian democracy and specially the ‘free thinking citizens’ and ‘remarkable’ elections process. 

Speaking in presence of visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken after their bilateral talks, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar directed his ire on Pakistan for its failure to fight terrorism in all its sincerity.

“...The most remarkable democratic election in the world, in many ways is here in India,” Blinken told a press conference in response to a question.

He said by ‘sheer numbers’, the Indian election is unique and it’s the “largest” exercise by the citizens “anywhere on earth”.
The US Secretary of State said democracy is never at perfect stage anywhere on the globe.
“Our entire quest is to get closer and closer to the ideals we (democracies) set for ourselves. That’s how societies make progress,” he said, however adding at times the ‘challenges’ to democracies could be “painful”.

In democracies, the ‘mechanisms’ work well and ensure co-existence of different faiths, free media, independent courts “powered by a system of free and fair elections”.

To a question, External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar said, because of its greater involvement in Afghanistan when the US withdraws, there will be “consequences”.
“It is the policy to deal with what we have....,” he said adding the conversation between him and Blinken during the latter’s two-day visit have tried to dwell on these situations.

He emphasised like his US counterpart that military solution is no panacea to the problems in Afghanistan. “It is not that the outcome should be decided by force in the battle field....And Peace Negotiations should lead to peace. It should see cessation of violence”.

Dr Jaishankar maintained there is a “broad and deep consensus” that most of the neighbours of Afghanistan “agree with that”.

 At this point without naming any country, Dr Jaishankar, a career diplomat, remarked acidly : “I grant you not everybody who agrees, does what they say. I noted the exception which you pointed out to. But that is a reality.... that’s the reality of last 20 years”.