China hints it may provide financial aid to Afghanistan

BEIJING/WASHINGTON: China on Monday hinted at stepping up financial assistance to the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, saying it will play a “positive role” in helping the war-ravaged country amid global push back to stop funding to Kabul until the Afghan militant group modifies its hardline religious policies.

On Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin hit out at the US saying it is “main perpetrator” for the Afghan crisis.

Asked for his reaction to comments by Afghanistan’s exiled central bank chief stating that the Taliban may go to China and Pakistan to replace the US for financial assistance, Wang said, “I want to stress that the US is the main perpetrator and biggest external factor for the Afghan issue. It cannot leave the mess without doing anything.”

Wang said that “China always adopts a friendly policy towards the entire Afghan people” and provided substantial assistance to the socioeconomic development to Afghanistan. “China will also play a positive role in helping the country in self capacity building, peace, reconstruction and improvement of people’s livelihoods,” he said.

Pak intel behind Taliban takeover: US lawmaker

Steve Chabot, a top US Republican lawmaker, has accused Pakistan and its intelligence apparatus of allowing the Taliban to come to power. He said “we all know Pakistan and particularly its intelligence services” played a key role in allowing the Taliban to take control.