{"id":3797,"date":"2023-09-13T22:03:06","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T22:03:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/china-appoints-new-ambassador-to-taliban-led-afghanistan-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-09-13T22:03:06","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T22:03:06","slug":"china-appoints-new-ambassador-to-taliban-led-afghanistan-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/china-appoints-new-ambassador-to-taliban-led-afghanistan-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"China appoints new ambassador to Taliban-led Afghanistan | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nKABUL:
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A new Chinese ambassador presented his credentials to the Taliban’s prime minister in Kabul on Wednesday, Afghan officials said, adding it was the first appointment of a foreign envoy at the ambassadorial level since the Taliban took power in 2021.<\/p>\n

The Taliban have not been officially recognised by any foreign government. It was not immediately clear if Wednesday’s appointment signalled any steps by Beijing towards formal recognition of the Taliban.<\/p>\n

China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to request for comment.<\/p>\n

“Mohammad Hassan Akhund, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, accepted the credentials of Mr Zhao Xing, the new Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan, during a ceremony,” said the Taliban administration’s deputy spokesman, Bilal Karimi, in a statement.<\/p>\n

A Taliban administration foreign ministry spokesman confirmed he was the first ambassador appointed since August 2021 when the Taliban took over as foreign forces withdrew.<\/p>\n

Read also:<\/strong> Inaugural China-Afghanistan consignment via TIR agreement sets new milestone<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

China’s previous ambassador to Afghanistan, Wang Yu, took up the role in 2019 and finished his tenure last month.<\/p>\n

Other nations and international delegations, such as Pakistan and the European Union, have sent senior diplomats to lead diplomatic missions in Kabul but they have taken on a ‘chargee d’affaires’ title, usually meaning they are responsible for ambassadorial duties but do not formally hold the role of ambassador.<\/p>\n

Some ambassadors appointed during the previous foreign-backed Afghan government have also stayed in Kabul with the same title.<\/p>\n

The Taliban entered the capital on Aug. 15, 2021, as the Afghan security forces, set up with years of Western support, disintegrated and US-backed President Ashraf Ghani fled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n