US urges China to explain its relationship with the Taliban

KABUL (Khaama Press): Following the acceptance of the credentials of the Taliban’s ambassador to Beijing by the President of China, the spokesperson of the U.S. Department of State has stated that China should clarify its relationship with the Taliban.
Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, reacted during a press conference on Tuesday, January 30, to reports indicating China’s acceptance of the credentials of the Taliban envoy by asking whether China formally recognizes the Taliban government or not. He stated in the press conference, “I’ve seen those reports, and I think it’s for China to speak about their [Beijing’s] relationship [with the Taliban] and whether they [China] have formally recognized the Taliban or not. I’ve seen some differing opinions from them.”
This comes as Xi Jinping, the President of China, accepted the credentials of Bilal Kareemi, the Taliban ambassador to Beijing, on Tuesday.
Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Taliban, has announced that their ambassador in the Chinese capital, along with ambassadors from 41 other countries, presented their credentials to Xi Jinping during a formal ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
China maintains a close relationship with the Taliban but has not officially recognized them yet, and, like other countries, has raised conditions concerning human rights, counterterrorism efforts, and the establishment of an inclusive government.
The U.S. Department of State spokesperson, while urging China to respond to its relationship with the Taliban, also referred to the widespread human rights violations in Afghanistan, saying, “We very much want to see improvements in the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, and we want any country engaged with the Taliban to make progress on that front.”