Willing to develop friendly relations with Taliban, says China

China has said it will maintain friendly relations with the fundamentalist outfit Taliban which has gained control of Afghanistan. The Chinese foreign ministry said China respects the right of the Afghan people to independently determine their destiny.

New Delhi: A day after the Taliban gained control over Afghanistan, the Chinese government Monday said it is willing to develop "friendly relations" with Afghanistan's Taliban.

Addressing the media, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, "China respects the right of the Afghan people to independently determine their destiny and is willing to continue to develop... friendly relations with Afghanistan."

She also said that the Chinese embassy in Kabul is still operating. Most Chinese nationals have been prepared to return to China. The embassy will keep a close eye on the situation and offer necessary supports and services to those who choose to stay.

Commenting on the fast-evolving situation in Afghanistan, Thinktank expert Dr Suvro Kamal Dutta said, "India should take a stern and strong position against the Taliban and mobilise the international community, especially Russia, European Union, the Central Asian states and Iran against it."

"There should be no expectations from the USA as the whole problem is a creation of the USA itself. The Americans have fled the country like termites. If we do not act tough now, tomorrow it will be a disaster for us as Afghan Taliban and Pakistan will now export terror to India with more vigour and deadly weapons," Dutta told ETV Bharat.

Throughout the US troops' withdrawal, China has sought to maintain unofficial ties with the Taliban.

China's support to the Taliban comes as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), under the presidency of India, is set to take up the issue today in an emergency meeting.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has repeatedly condemned the violence against Afghan civilians, is expected to speak at the emergency meeting. The emergency meeting was called by Estonia and Norway.

Chaos and panic continue in Afghanistan as civilians fled Kabul to escape from the atrocities being carried out by the Taliban.

Meanwhile, at least five people lost their lives at Kabul international airport as thousands rushed to board planes leaving Afghanistan.

Ashraf Ghano stepped down as president Sunday and left the country as the Taliban once again gained control of the war-ravaged nation.

After a month-long offensive against the Afghan security forces, terrorists associated with the fundamentalist outfit captured Kabul Sunday.