This weekend, the Chinese Communist Party has extended an invitation to the Taliban’s “Foreign Minister,” Amir Khan Muttaki, to visit Beijing.
According to Afghan outlet Tolo News, Muttaki is set to accept the invitation and travel to the Chinese capital “later this month.”
China has recently intensified its economic collaboration, meeting with Yue Xiayon, its top diplomat handling Afghan matters, along with Taliban officials. This meeting further legitimizes the Taliban as Afghanistan’s official government.
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, when the US-backed government led by President Ashraf Ghani collapsed and he fled the country.
Throughout that year, the Taliban conducted numerous attacks, effectively dismantling Afghan forces in light of then-President Joe Biden’s decisions.
For the past four years, the Taliban has not faced significant conflict, yet no foreign nation recognizes its regime as legitimate. International financial and diplomatic institutions have largely opted not to acknowledge the Taliban’s leadership. The United Nations has permitted the former Ghani government to retain its representation in New York and Geneva while also inviting Taliban officials to significant upcoming events.
Although the UN has not officially recognized the Taliban, the Security Council did vote in 2022 to allow member states to work with “relevant Afghan political actors,” and the Taliban is currently the only such entity in Afghanistan.
China stands as the only country actively engaging with the Taliban, somewhat accepting its role as a “tentative” political entity.
Yue’s visit to Kabul involved discussions with representatives from Pakistan. Taliban officials shared images showing Yue and Muttaki together.
Reportedly, Yue discussed enhancing political and economic relations, reiterating China’s commitment to supporting Afghanistan on the global stage. He also officially invited Muttaki to China.
A spokesperson for the Taliban indicated that Muttaki received the invitation warmly, noting he plans to travel. Afghan media did not clarify if this trip is aimed at a larger international event or if it’s primarily a diplomatic mission.
While Muttaki is still gaining experience in diplomatic relations with China, he has been working to deepen ties between the Taliban and Chinese interests. Notably, in 2022, Taliban representatives attended a Chinese event focusing on empowering the group and called for legal recognition from their neighbors, while criticizing the US for failing to support Afghanistan’s success.
He had stated that Afghanistan hopes for prompt diplomatic acknowledgment from its neighboring countries regarding its interim government. Furthermore, he accused the US of harming Afghanistan’s political and economic sovereignty during its exit from the country.
Muttaqi previously met with Qin Gang, China’s Foreign Minister, in April 2023, following an earlier meeting in Beijing.
During recent discussions, Qin emphasized China’s backing for the Taliban, arguing that Beijing respects Afghanistan’s independence and sovereignty. The Chinese government has framed the Taliban’s governance as a choice made by the Afghan populace.
Qin also mentioned that China aims to assist the Taliban in establishing governance and welcomed them into initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which fosters business opportunities between parties. Critics often describe BRI initiatives as a means for China to extend its reach through strategic loans and infrastructure projects that sometimes lack necessity.
There are reports that representatives from Pakistan engaged in discussions with the Taliban and Chinese officials recently. Considerations around the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly post-terrorism incidents, have led to agreements aimed at limiting India’s influence within Afghanistan.
According to various Afghan sources, Taliban authorities have granted contracts worth millions to Chinese companies involving significant mining and infrastructure projects.
