Taleban seeks help from Beijing to lift UN sanctions

DAVID MURPHY in Beijing



South China Morning Post

The Taleban is seeking Chinese support in its efforts to break out of diplomatic isolation and end sanctions imposed by the United Nations.

A three-member delegation from the fundamentalist Islamic Government recently met Chinese officials in Beijing to convey the request.

Sanctions were imposed after Kabul refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, the millionaire Saudi dissident based in Afghanistan who the United States accuses of operating an anti-Western terrorist network.

The delegation also wants recognition as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

In return, the Taleban offered to guarantee Islamic fundamentalism would not be exported to China from the 90 per cent of Afghanistan it controls, diplomats in Beijing said yesterday.

Beijing is believed to have refused to recognise the Taleban Government, while saying it would recognise an administration incorporating opposition elements.

"China's main interest in Afghanistan is to make sure the Taleban does not interfere in Chinese internal affairs in the province of Xinjiang," said a diplomat.

A Chinese official confirmed a Taleban mission had visited Beijing but gave no details of the talks. The official said Beijing and the Taleban had "good relations" and that China continued to maintain contacts with all parties to the Afghan conflict.

China supported the Mujahedeen during their anti-Soviet war with arms shipments via Pakistan but largely withdrew after the Soviet Union pulled its troops out of Afghanistan in 1989.

The Taleban is recognised by three countries, only one of which, its main backer Pakistan, maintains an active mission in Afghanistan.