Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has said that the economic future of Afghanistan rests chiefly in the hands of China after it agreed to help rebuild the war-torn country.
In an interview published by Italian publication La Repubblica on Thursday, Mujahid was quoted as saying: “China is our most important partner and represents a fundamental and extraordinary opportunity for us, because it is ready to invest and rebuild our country.”
Following the swift Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, which culminated in the forces marching into Kabul on August 15, and the last of the foreign troops leaving the war-torn country on August 31, Western states have restricted aid to Afghanistan, in view of the political uncertainty.
Amid fears of an economic collapse and widespread hunger, the Taliban have indicated a formal government structure is on the horizon.