China to Provide Alternate Livelihoods to Afghan Farmers, If Poppy Cultivation Stopped

The Taliban's Foreign Ministry says that China is ready to provide alternate livelihoods to Afghan farmers if poppy cultivation is stopped in Afghanistan.

According to the Taliban, Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister, has suggested the plan during a meeting with the Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on the sidelines of the Tashkent conference on Afghanistan.

In this meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations, and economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban earlier, in a decree, banned poppy cultivation in Afghanistan.

However, Tajikistan's Interior Minister recently said that smuggling across the border has increased since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. Ramzan Rahimzada said that the Taliban has not been successful in preventing drug trafficking from Afghanistan.

Hafiz Zia Jalal, the Deputy Spokesperson of the Taliban Foreign Ministry, said in a tweet that Wang Yi spoke about China's aid to Afghanistan in the humanitarian sector and reconstruction, especially in trade and agriculture.

The Taliban said that China's foreign minister has pledged to start issuing visas to Afghans from August 1, 2022.

According to the Taliban, Amir Khan Muttaqi, expressed his appreciation for China in allowing Ariana Airlines flights to China's Urumqi city and said that this initiative will increase Afghanistan's exports to China.

The Taliban delegation led by Amir Khan Muttaqi went to Uzbekistan on Monday this week to participate in the Tashkent international conference on Afghanistan.

Representatives of 20 countries and organisations including the United States, Russia, the European Union, China, United Kingdom, India, Iran, and Pakistan were also present at the Tashkent conference.