Afghanistan, Sept. 24 -- Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports that China has invited Taliban defence chief Mullah Yaqoob to Beijing to evaluate the group's readiness against potential U.S. operations in Afghanistan.
Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta has reported that China has issued an unexpected invitation to Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, the Taliban's acting defence minister, to visit Beijing.
The report linked the move to recent remarks by U.S. president Donald Trump, who suggested Washington plans to regain control of Afghanistan's Bagram airbase.
According to Afghan sources cited by the paper, Trump views a symbolic return to Bagram as central to his strategy before the upcoming U.S. midterm elections.
The paper said American envoy...