Ready to develop 'Friendly Relations' with Taliban in Afghanistan, says China

On Monday, the Chinese government said, "it is ready to develop "friendly relations" with the Taliban as the insurgent group completed its military takeover of the South Asian nation", reported by news agency AFP. According to AFP, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, "China respects the right of the Afghan people to independently determine their own destiny and is willing to continue to develop... friendly and cooperative relations with Afghanistan."

On Sunday, in Afghanistan, the Taliban has entered the capital city Kabul and took over the abandoned presidential palace. Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani has left the country with his family, chief of staff and nationals security advisor for Tajikistan. 

However, Afghanistan’s vice president Amrullah Saleh stated that he was in "his soil and with the people; for a cause and purpose". Further, he added that "opposing Pakistan-backed oppression and brutal dictatorship is their legitimacy". 

Meanwhile, UK prime minister Boris Johnson said, "UK is working with its partners to send a clear message through NATO meet on Friday that nobody should bilaterally recognise the Taliban." 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote on Twitter, "The United States joins the international community in affirming that Afghans and international citizens who wish to depart must be allowed to do so."

The State Department released a signed statement by the close allies stating, "Those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan bear responsibility — and accountability — for the protection of human life. We are completing a series of steps to secure the Hamid Karzai International Airport to enable the safe departure of US and allied personnel from Afghanistan via civilian and military flights."