Afghanistan-China resumes flights after a 3-year pause

Afghanistan and China resumed direct flights with the state owned Ariana Afghan Airlines landed in the Chinese city of Urumqi following a three-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is an important development because now there is a totally different government in Afghanistan. The republic system was in power three years ago when the flights were stopped, but now the Taliban, who fought against the republic and its foreign supporters for the last 20 years, are ruling the country.

Taliban overtake power in August 2021 following the hasty withdrawal of US forces, but since that no country has formally recognized the government of Taliban. Almost all foreign missions suspended their activities except China, Pakistan, Iran, Russia and some others.

Speaking at the flight-resumption ceremony, Ghulam Jailani Wafa, Taliban Deputy Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (MTCA) expressed happiness on the resumption of flights, and called it an important development to boost up the country’s economy.

“Beside commercial ties, the resumption, which also includes passenger flights, will help improve political ties between the two countries,” Wafa said.

Wafa also said that technical work has been underway in the airport in order to bolster up more capabilities for air corridors for domestic and international companies.

Chinese trade market in Afghanistan

The head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, Mohmmad Younos Mohmmand had expressed the Islamic Emirate’s readiness to create a trade market for the Chinese in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan has a great potentiality to attract more Chinese investments as well as to improve bilateral trade ties in different areas, he said.

Meanwhile, the Chinese consul general in Kabul said that economic and trade relations with Afghanistan are developing on a daily basis.

The official seems happy with the level of trade between the two countries which is more than one billion dollars annually, and said there are good opportunities for Afghan businessmen in China. He also called on the Chinese investors to invest in Afghanistan.

“We resumed direct flight from Kabul to Urumqi, and this is an important step in Afghanistan-China relations as both the countries have strong will to strengthen ties,” he added.

Afghanistan ready to maintain security for Chinese investor

Taliban Prime Minister and Deputy for Political Affairs, Mawlavi Abdul Kabir held a detailed discussion with the Chinese ambassador in Kabul, Mr. Wang Yu, and said that Afghanistan is seeking good ties with all its neighboring countries.

Kabir assured Wang that Afghanistan’s soil will not be used against any countries, and hinted toward the ancient ties history between Afghanistan and China. Kabir also thanked China for providing facilities to Afghan businessmen, saying that Taliban is ready to provide all facilities to Chinese investors, and maintained their security in Afghanistan.

Apparently, Wang was satisfied with the security situation in Afghanistan, and expressed Beijing’s desire for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

Wang called peace in Afghanistan in the best interest of the region, neighboring countries, and China. “With joint efforts of Kabul and Beijing in the economic sector, we can achieve great success in the future,” Wang added.

Taliban Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani also met with Wang, and praised the realistic position of China, saying justice is extremely important when it comes to international interaction and ties.

Taliban Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani met with Chinese Ambassador Wang Yu in Kabul.

Haqqani said that Taliban believe in good relations and this is top priority of the Islamic Emirate as they expect the same from other countries.

On his part, Wang said that China stands with Afghanistan and believes that the development of nations is only possible in a free and independent environment and Afghans are now currently on that path.

Wang also clarified that China does not support the policies of sanctions, pressure and interference in other countries.

Both sides also evaluated the results of the recent meeting of Afghanistan-Pakistan-China foreign ministers in Islamabad as positive, and pushed for improving relations in all areas.

Kabul airport is restored

The US forces turned the Kabul airport into a complete ruin at the end of August 2021, when their last troops left Kabul after 20 years of presence. The airport was blocked by the US forces and all of its installations were damaged intentionally. The first task for the Taliban was to immediately operationalize the Kabul airport, and it has been operating smoothly.

Abdul Hadi Mohammad, head of Kabul Airport said that Afghan air aviation system has been improved a lot, adding that a “D-check process,” that previously cost $1.5 million to $1.7 million, is now possible inside Afghanistan with the cost of $200,000.

“We are not able to do the D-Check process inside the country as previously it was being conducted in other countries that also took five to eight months,” Hadi Mohammad added.

Around 90,000 people including 5,000 foreigners have traveled abroad in the past one month, according to Hadi Mohammad, who said that 200 cargo flights were also conducted.