Afghanistan Turns to China, Other Nations as US Relations Enter Uncertain New Phase

White House officials said Thursday that U.S. involvement with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers had entered an uncertain new phase, as U.S. officials continued working to evacuate about 100 Americans still in the country. 1/3Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Director, PO held a phone conversation with Wu Jianghao, Deputy Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China. Both sides discussed the ongoing situation of the country and future relations. The Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister said that

Meanwhile, Taliban officials indicated that their fledgling government was strengthening ties with China and other nations. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. no longer controlled the airspace over Afghanistan. So far, she said, 31,107 people have been brought to the U.S., of the more than 120,000 who have been evacuated in what administration officials have described as the largest airlift in history. Also Thursday, a Taliban spokesman said via Twitter that a top Taliban official had spoken to a top Chinese official.