BEIJING — China has called on the Taliban to conduct a thorough investigation into the killing of a Chinese national in Afghanistan and to “seriously” punish those responsible, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry, expressed shock over the attack, which took place in Afghanistan’s northern Takhar Province on Tuesday. A Chinese mine worker and an Afghan citizen were killed in a shooting that was later claimed by the Islamic State Khorasan Province, a regional affiliate of ISIS.
“We are deeply shocked by the incident,” Ms. Mao said, according to a report by China Daily. She added that China had urgently lodged a formal complaint with Afghanistan’s authorities, urging them to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals in the country.
The Taliban, who regained power in Afghanistan in 2021, have yet to arrest the perpetrators of the attack. The incident underscores the persistent security challenges facing Afghanistan and raises concerns about the safety of foreign workers operating in the region.
China has invested heavily in Afghanistan’s mining sector and has maintained relations with the Taliban, advocating for stability as a key to economic development. This latest attack, however, could test Beijing’s engagement strategy with the Taliban-led administration.
