China edges closer to Afghanistan as US cancels peace talks

Taliban attacks irk Trump, opening the door for Beijing's overtures to Islamabad

20190909 Pakistan Afgfhanistan China

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, center, hand shakes with Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani, right, and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi prior to a meeting in Islamabad on Sept. 7. © AP

FARHAN BOKHARI, Contributing writer

ISLAMABAD -- U.S. President Donald Trump has abruptly canceled talks with Afghanistan's Taliban militants following weeks of uncertainty surrounding peace negotiations that would end America's longest and most expensive war.

The cancellation came just after the Chinese foreign minister met with his Afghan counterpart in Islamabad earlier the same day.

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