BIJING ( WNAM MONITORING):China will continue its mediation efforts to ease tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as Islamabad pressed for a change in the Taliban’s current approach for any meaningful engagement.
“To mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan, FM Wang Yi has had phone conversations with his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts during the past week,” said spokesperson of the Chinese Foriegn Ministry.
“The MFA Special Envoy on Afghan Affairs has been shuttling between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the spokesperson added. “China’s embassies have been in close communication with both sides as well.”
The spokesperson said China hopes Afghanistan and Pakistan will remain calm and exercise restraint, engage face to face as soon as possible, achieve a ceasefire at the earliest opportunity, and resolve differences and disputes through dialogue. “China will continue to facilitate reconciliation and ease tensions,” the spokesperson further said.
Meanwhile, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said, “Pakistan and China remain trusted partners and close friends. We maintain regular and close communication on all issues of mutual concern and shared interest. Therefore, any unnecessary speculation or fabrication of facts in this regard is unwarranted.”
“During the recent telephone conversation between the deputy prime minister/foreign minister and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a wide range of issues were discussed, including developments related to Afghanistan. I had also confirmed this aspect of the call during my press briefing last Thursday,” he added.
“Similarly, during the visit of Chinese Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong, consultations were held on matters relating to regional peace and stability, including Afghanistan.”
Earlier, Pakistan informed China that it will continue with its existing policy of non-engagement with the Taliban regime, citing Kabul’s failure to change its stance on the presence of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil.
