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  China arms Afghan Army, engages with the Taliban

China arms Afghan Army, engages with the Taliban

ANI
Published : Oct 22, 2016, 7:19 am IST
Updated : Oct 22, 2016, 7:19 am IST

China’s aid to the Afghan National Army in the name of nation building and simultaneous support to Taliban exposes Beijing’s double standard in the strategically-located Afghanistan.

China’s aid to the Afghan National Army in the name of nation building and simultaneous support to Taliban exposes Beijing’s double standard in the strategically-located Afghanistan.

In mid July, Beijing “secretly” invited an Afghan-Taliban delegation led by the leader of the group’s Qatar-based political office, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, to hold a dialogue.

However, it was not the first visit by any Taliban group to China as it has reportedly hosted several meetings with Taliban leaders in the past without engaging the government in Kabul, said sources familiar with the Chinese engagement.

On the other hand, China has been promising military aid, including light weapons and aircraft parts, to the Afghanistan government with an aim to strengthen the Afghan National Army to fight against the Taliban.

Reports also indicated that in May 2017, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Afghan National Army are likely to conduct a 15-day joint counter terrorism exercise with a code name ‘Iron Fist-2017’ at the Korla Training Base in Xinjiang. Sources said China was thus arming the Afghan National Army to fight the very Taliban with whom it is holding a dialogue.

“China is hunting with the hound and running with the hare,” said Kabul-based sources.

Further, China has also invited a group of Afghan experts to attend a joint training consultation in Beijing to develop a better understanding on military training-related issues next year.

As per media reports, the secret communication between China and the Taliban could be traced back to the 1980s, when Islamic militants from all around the world resisted the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan.

In early 1980s, the Chinese diplomats were also found engaged in providing Chinese arms to the Afghan Mujahideen fighting the Soviets.

Location: Afghanistan, Kabol, Kabul