Chinese Foreign minister meets Taliban

• In a major development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Taliban leadership

• The minister stated that China would continue to provide humanitarian aid, and urgently provide grains, winter supplies, and vaccines. Further, he stated that it supported economic reconstruction and independent development of Afghanistan

• He also called on the Taliban to “further demonstrate openness and tolerance, unite all ethnic groups and factions in Afghanistan to work together for peaceful reconstruction, and effectively protect the rights and interests of women and children.”

• Further Taliban assured hum of taking steps to crush the East Turkistan Islamic Movement

• Taliban has earlier expressed its interest in the BRI flagship program of China and extending the CPEC to Afghanistan