WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden says Pakistan, Iran, China, and Russia are working to negotiate and reach an agreement with the Afghan Taliban on certain issues.
His comment came hours after the Taliban announced details of its interim government in Afghanistan.
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Biden said he was certain China would try to work out an arrangement with the Taliban after the group seized power in Afghanistan on August 15.
Asked if he was worried that China would fund the group, which is sanctioned under U.S. law, Biden told reporters, “China has a real problem with the Taliban. So they’re going to try to work out some arrangement with the Taliban, I’m sure. As does Pakistan, as does Russia, as does Iran. They’re all trying to figure out what do they do now.”
Earlier, a US State Department spokesman had expressed concern over the Taliban’s announcement of an interim government and said the Taliban would be tested by their actions, not their words.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Afghan Taliban, had recently said that the future of Afghanistan’s development is in the hands of China.
In an interview to an Italian newspaper, Mujahid said that China is considered Afghanistan’s neighbour and most important partner. He had said the new Afghanistan will seek China’s help to revive and rebuild its economy.
Mujahid said that the Taliban also wanted to establish strong diplomatic and trade relations with Russia. He said Russia had fully supported the Taliban for the establishment of world peace.
The United States and its Group of Seven allies have agreed to coordinate their response to the Taliban, and Washington has blocked the Taliban’s access to Afghanistan’s reserves, most of which are held by the New York Federal Reserve, to ensure they live up to their pledges to respect women’s rights and international law.
But experts say much of that economic leverage will be lost if China, Russia or other countries provide funds to the Taliban.
