Beijing says withdrawal of foreign forces is ‘not end of responsibility, but beginning of reflection and correction’
ANKARA (AA) – China has called for investigating the US and Australian forces for their “criminal activities” in Afghanistan as the foreign forces completely exited the war-torn country on Monday night.
Beijing also called on “relevant countries” to learn from the “lessons, truly respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.”
“It is hoped that relevant countries will effectively change the wrong practice of imposing their own models on others, and change the hegemonic practice of imposing sanctions or even using force at every turn,” Ambassador Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative at its UN mission, told the UN Security Council on Monday.
Beijing abstained from the UNSC resolution passed on Afghanistan.
“China has huge doubts about the necessity and urgency of adopting this resolution and the balance of its content. Despite this, China has still participated constructively in the consultations and put forward important and reasonable amendments together with Russia,” Geng said.
“Unfortunately, our amendments have not been fully adopted. China has always opposed forcefully pushing for resolution by any sponsors. Based on the above considerations China has abstained from this draft resolution.”
The UN Security Council voted on Monday to urge the “rapid and secure” reopening of the airport serving Afghanistan’s capital Kabul after the US forces complete their withdrawal from the war-torn country.
Without naming anyone, the Chinese ambassador called on the US and its allies that they should be “responsible for what they have done in the past 20 years, and fulfill their commitments towards the peaceful rebuilding of Afghanistan.”
“They cannot claim to care about Afghan people’s welfare while imposing unilateral sanctions, or claim to support Afghanistan’s acceleration of economic and social development while seizing and freezing Afghanistan’s overseas assets,” he stressed.
He said the international coalition which invaded Afghanistan in 2001 “left behind in the country huge catastrophe they have created but shifted the responsibility to Afghanistan’s neighboring countries and the Security Council.”
“The actions of foreign troops in Afghanistan in the past 20 years, including the criminal activities carried out by the United States and Australian forces for the indiscriminate killing of civilians, must not be wiped out, and must continue to be investigated.”
The Chinese ambassador said in view of the “fragile and sensitive situation” in Afghanistan, “any actions taken by the Security Council should help ease rather than intensify tensions and conflicts so that Afghanistan can transition smoothly, rather than relapse into turmoil.”
Geng squarely blamed the “hasty and disorderly” withdrawal of foreign troops for the recent chaos in Afghanistan.
“We hope that relevant countries will realize the fact that withdrawal is not the end of responsibility, but the beginning of reflection and correction,” he added.