China sets out conditions for recognising next Afghan government

Taliban fighters patrol in Wazir Akbar Khan neighbourhood in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan (Rahmat Gul/AP)

China has said it is waiting for the establishment of an “open, inclusive, and widely representative” government in Afghanistan before it decides on the issue of recognition.

“If we are going to recognise a government, we will have to wait till the government is formed,” foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said.