Afghanistan is one of those countries that has been suffering for many centuries. The country itself is a battleground, taking the credits of present situations, it was already suffering a lot from past years. The Takeover by the Taliban in the past resulted in severe damage to the country both economically and mentally. For the past 20 years, the United States was committed to bringing the best out of the country but they failed and the Taliban won, once again. Afghanistan is now in the hands of the Taliban, many nations are still standing for the opinion that this terrorist organization deserves no recognition nor should it be leading a country but there are many supporters as well, like China. China is supporting the group like no one else and it can be fatal in many ways.
Withdrawal Of United States Troops And Capture Of Afghanistan By The Taliban
The withdrawal of United States troops powered the Taliban in many ways. Just after the withdrawal was announced by the United States, the Taliban started grasping the lands of Afghanistan in a very fast manner. By the 8th of August, the Taliban seized Zaranj that is the capital of Afghanistan’s Nimroz area, then they attacked Sheberghan that is the capital of the Jowzjan area, and Lashkar Gah in Helmand. They continued and on the 15th of August, the Taliban captured the presidential palace in Kabul. With this invasion, the whole government collapsed. In addition, the president of Afghanistan ran from the country. The government collapsed fully in no time and by the August of 16th, the Taliban had control over the capital city Kabul.
Right after these events, significant international concerns were raised. The US embassy criticized the attacks that took place in Nimroz, Jowzjan, and Helmand lands. G7 countries made many calls against the violence in the South Asian Countries.
The withdrawal of United States’ troops led to a lot of chaos in Afghanistan and the world as well. And the result is that there is increasing pressure on the international body to not accept the Taliban as Afghanistan’s government. The formal draft in UNSC also strongly said that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan ( Taliban’s chosen name ) is not recognized at the United Nations and no support will be given for the establishment of the government in Afghanistan forced through military force and the coming back of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
China In Support Of The Taliban
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that “the international community should encourage and guide it in a positive direction instead of exerting more pressure” in a call with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. This statement by Wang Yi directly indicates how China is okay with the takeover of the Taliban and that this “new” government should be supported. According to China, accepting the fact that the Taliban will govern Afghanistan will be better for the peace of Afghanistan. He also stated that the “will of its ( Afghan ) people should be respected”, the statement shows the hypocrisy China holds as one is unaware of the history that is lived by the people of Afghanistan during the rule of the Taliban previously and the world has seen how most of the people of Afghanistan want to leave their country for their good.
Why Is China Wrong?
Even UNSC has not considered the Taliban as a government but China had already made its statement regarding “Guiding” the Taliban as a positive influence. These statements made by China are odd because this terror organization had already flouted major rules of engagement that were agreed upon in the Doha Peace talks. It makes very little sense for an international neighbor to support an organization that is just “claiming” for the development of the country and its people. China being aware of all these circumstances is still choosing to support the Taliban and it seems like the country has already forgiven the Taliban for breaking the agreement of Doha peace talks, attacking and forcefully capturing cities, and destroying a running civilian government with arms as if these were just mere mistakes.
Struggles Faced By Afghanis
China has also talked about how the coming of the Taliban is the “will of people” but in no manner, it seems to be true. People of Afghanistan lived in hell on the land when the Taliban used to rule them, they were beaten off, shot, dragged from the body, and publicly executed if seen not following the strict Islamic Laws the Taliban imposed on the country. The people lived in a country with no government or even a monarch whatsoever, the court and judge were the arms handled by the fighters of the Taliban.
Women suffered drastically under the rule of the Taliban in those years, they were banned from taking an education, women were not allowed to step outside the house without many blood male counterparts and they were also assaulted and raped in a very severe number. This statement of china where they claim how Afghan people want the Taliban is doing nothing but glorifying what Taliban do to the people as the correct way. The attacks by this terror group led to massive loss of life and property, those who were already living on the edge were forced to live in parks and streets without any aid of food and shelter. Though in recent talks and interviews, it has been mentioned that women will be given every right that comes under “Sharia Law” which eventually means women of Afghanistan will live in a country where the sound of their shoes will also be banned.
This Sharia Law followed by the Taliban is their version of Islamic Law that is very regressive as compared to the original version which clearly states that the Taliban want to “control people” and are not willing to let them grow. China claims that the Taliban which will govern Afghanistan is not “the same” and that they are more ‘clear-headed” than before. China is also sympathizing with the history of the Taliban and how it was formed. They stated that this group was formed by “Students in refugee camps” that have been at war with the US since the 9/11 attacks. By Sympathising with the terror group, China is deleting the history of the Taliban and portraying them as heroes and the United States as the real villains.
Few Final Words
By supporting the Taliban amidst knowing that they are nothing more than a group that will glorify women’s oppression and inhumane rules, maybe China is trying to justify the extremist policies they have imposed on their soil. The sexual assault and rape lawsuits on a major employee of Alibaba Group and celebrity Kris Wu respectively have let people know about the deeply rooted patriarchy and the behavior of those in power. By supporting the Taliban’s obvious false hopes and words for the protection of women’s rights, China is somewhat trying to make it clear what they believe in. When many nations are in opposition to the Taliban, China has already counted them as friends even before anyone has recognized them as Afghanistan’s government.
The support China is providing to the Taliban can lead to many issues that will be a global concern. Trusting an organization with a history so inhumane and violent is not practical, everyone can change is just a metaphor and so history can and will repeat itself. Taliban’s intentions are clear, the scream of help is still coming from all the parts of that country and if China is still going to ignore it, they can be next. Taliban history of terrorism is a concern for every country right now and it is not at all morally good for a country so powerful to support a group like that.