In a joint statement on Thursday, following their meeting in Beijing, the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, and his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, have called on the Taliban to end restrictions on women’s work and education.
The statement said:
“Both sides called on the Taliban to form an inclusive government in which all ethnic groups and political parties actually participate, and cancel all discriminatory measures against women, ethnic minorities and other religions,” the statement said, adding that the US and its NATO allies “should be responsible for the current situation in Afghanistan.”
The two sides also agreed to continue providing humanitarian and economic aid to the Afghan people and to enhance cooperation in the development of Afghanistan.
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On Tuesday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Beijing for an official three-day visit, marking the first visit by an Iranian president to China in 20 years.
The Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, on Thursday denied claims by a UN Security Council report and the US government, that Tehran had given sanctuary to the new al-Qaeda leader, Seif al-Adel.
“I advise the officials of the White House to stop the failed game of Iran-phobia, making news about the leader of Al-Qaeda and linking him to Iran is laughable,” Hossein Amirabdollahian said in a tweet.
