A Taliban delegation consisting of top leaders visited China earlier this month to discuss the security situation in Afghanistan, Reuters reported, citing sources in the Taliban.

The delegation was led by Abbas Stanakzai, head of the Taliban's political office in Qatar. The visit is the first time a Taliban delegation has visited any foreign country since Haibatullah Akhundzada took over as the new Taliban leader.   

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"We informed Chinese officials about the occupation by invading forces and their atrocities on Afghan people," a Taliban official said on the condition of anonymity. "We wanted the Chinese leadership to help us raise these issues on world forums and help us get freedom from occupying forces."        

The visit was confirmed by Haibatullah Akhundzada while speaking to Pakistani media, claiming that the visit took place from July 18-22.

China's Foreign Ministry has not issued any statement on the visit. A few weeks ago, reported surfaced that China has delivered military equipments to the Afghanistan government to fight insurgents.   

The visit comes after the Taliban pulled out of the peace talks initiated by Quadrilateral Coordination Group consisting of Pakistan, US, China, and Afghanistan government.

The peace talk has stalled after a US drone strike killed former Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Akhtar Mansour in Pakistan on May 21.

Afghanistan has been witnessing insurgency ever since the Soviet Union attacked the country in 1980's. However, the current insurgency between the Taliban and US-led forces started after the US attacked Afghanistan following the September 11 attack on America in 2001.

The bloody insurgency has lasted for almost 15 years, leading to the death of scores of US and Afghan soldiers as well as civilians.

TagsAfghan Taliban, china, China and Afghanistan, Taliban