Afghanistan: Russia Proposes 'Extended Troika' Meet in Kabul; China Reacts Positively

Beijing: China on Thursday reacted positively to a Russian proposal to convene a new meeting of the 'Extended Troika' on Afghanistan in Kabul - the first such conference since the Taliban seized power last month.

Russia plans to convene a new meeting of the 'Extended Troika' on Afghanistan in Kabul after the resumption of commercial flights, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency Sputnik.

"We believe we should contribute to urgent stabilisation jointly with other international partners,” Morgulov said. 

"To that end, we plan to convene a new meeting of the Extended Troika, which includes Russia, the United States, China and Pakistan, in Kabul as soon as there are conditions. I mainly refer to the resumption of the Kabul airport operation for commercial civil aviation flights," he said.

On Tuesday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the media that efforts are underway to reopen the Kabul airport to civilian air traffic.

Asked for his reaction to the Russian proposal, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing on Thursday that China and Russia are in "in-depth and robust" communication on the evolving situation in Afghanistan after the US withdrawal. 

"A proper settlement of the Afghan issue requires the participation and support of the international community," Wang said.

"There are many mechanisms on Afghanistan, each with its own features and highlights, and complementing each other. China has been maintaining close coordination with the relevant sides on the Afghan issue,” he said.

"Between China and Russia there are in-depth robust strategic communication coordination at all levels. Under new circumstances, China will continue to work with the international community to work for the soft landing of the situation in Afghanistan and Kabul,” he said.

"We will together help Afghanistan to restore order and for it to achieve peace and reconstruction," he said.

The "extended Troika" meeting was earlier held in Qatar on August 11. Talks under the format had earlier taken place on March 18 and April 30.

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan on August 15, two weeks before the US was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war. This forced Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to flee the country to the UAE.

For the US, it is totally a new situation as not only the Taliban seized power after the previous 'Extended Troika' meetings but also its troops had to withdraw in hurry amid the surging crowds of Afghan people at the Kabul airport wanting to leave the country to escape the wrath of the new regime.

China Trying to Take Over Bagram Air Base: Haley

In Washington, , a former senior American diplomat has warned that US needs to closely watch China as it might try to take over the Bagram air force base in Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of the war-torn country and use Pakistan to get stronger to go against India.  

America’s former envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley said President Joe Biden has lost the trust and confidence of American allies after his hasty decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. She said there are many challenges in front of the US. 

The US needs to make sure that Americans are protected and the country's cybersecurity is strong "because actors like Russia are going to continue to hack us because we show no signs of willingness to fight back, she said. 

"We need to watch China because I think you are going to see China make a move for Bagram Air Force Base. I think they are also making a move in Afghanistan and trying to use Pakistan to get stronger to go against India. So, we have got a lot of issues," she said. 

In July, the US military left Bagram Airfield - its key base in Afghanistan - after nearly 20 years. At its height, Bagram base was home to tens of thousands of US troops. 

"The biggest thing he (Biden) should do is strengthen our allies, strengthen those relationships, modernise our military, and make sure we are prepared for the cyber-crimes and the terrorist crimes that are headed our way,” she said in response to a question. 

She said it is time that President Biden's administration reaches out to its key friends and allies like India, Japan and Australia and assure them that the US will have their back. 

“The first thing you should do is immediately start connecting with our allies, whether it's Taiwan, whether it's Ukraine, whether it's Israel, whether it's India, Australia, Japan, all of them, and reassure them that we will have their back and that we need them as well,” Haley said. 

“Secondly, we need to make sure that we are going on an anti-terrorist effort across the world because we are now going to see -- with this moral victory that the jihadists have, you are going to see a heavy recruitment campaign around the world. You are going to see more lone wolf situations,” she added.

Haley slammed Biden for his disastrous withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.