See China as a friend, will not help Uyghur Muslim militants from Xinjiang’: Says Taliban as it eyes huge Chinese investments in Afghanistan
China is looking to make big-ticket investments in Afghanistan as it is home to one of the world's largest unexploited reserves of copper, coal, iron, gas, cobalt, mercury, gold, lithium and thorium, valued at more than US$ one trillion.
Amidst the withdrawal of US forces from war-torn Afghanistan, the Taliban has said that it sees China as a “friend” to Afghanistan and hoped that China invests in the reconstruction of the war-torn country.
Speaking to
South China Morning Post, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen*said*the radical Islamic group now controls 85 per cent of Afghan territory and would guarantee the safety of Chinese investors and workers. The comments came at a time when the Taliban has been making huge territorial gains in the war-torn country amidst US forces’ withdrawal, threatening the progress the country made in the last two decades.
During the interview, Shaheen*said*that the Taliban has assured China that it would not host Uyghur militants from the Xinjiang province, some of whom had previously entered Afghanistan to escape from Chinese persecution. The Taliban would also prevent al-Qaeda or any other terrorist group from operating there, he said.
Reportedly, China is concerned that Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, may become a hub for the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a separatist outfit aligned to Al-Qaeda, which is leading an insurgency in Xinjiang autonomous area. The northwest Xinjian region, which is home to Uyghur Muslims, shares about an 8- km-long border with Afghanistan.
“We have been to China many times and we have good relations with them,” Suhail said while speaking to Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, as he recalled his frequent trips to China as part of Taliban delegations. Taliban views China as a friendly country and we welcome it for reconstruction and developing Afghanistan, said Suhail Shaheen, adding that “If (the Chinese) have investments, of course, we will ensure their safety”.
China looking to make investments in Afghanistan
China is looking to make big-ticket investments in Afghanistan as it is home to one of the world’s largest unexploited reserves of copper, coal, iron, gas, cobalt, mercury, gold, lithium and thorium, valued at more than US$ one trillion. China has already invested in oil exploration and mining in Afghanistan. In 2011, the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) won a US$ 400 million contract to drill three oil fields for 25 years, containing about 87 million barrels of oil.
In addition, some Chinese firms have also gained rights to mine copper at Mes Aynak in Logar province. However, observers believe that China will remain very cautious and concerned about the Taliban delivering on its promises. Experts believe that China’s biggest concern in its dealings with the Taliban will always be the Taliban’s indirect support for was sheltering Uyghur Muslims.
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