ISLAMABAD Chinese ambassador in Kabul Zhao Sheng told Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Tuesday that his country is trying to create an atmosphere of trust between Afghanistan and Pakistan and has started mediation with neutrality and cooperation.
The comments came as Pakistan and Afghan Taliban officials were scheduled to wrap up talks in Urumqi, China, started on April 2, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The Chinese envoy said with an understanding of the geopolitical situation in the region, it is hoped that the process of building trust, goodwill and non-violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan will continue, according to the Afghan Foreign Ministry.
On his part, the Afghan Foreign Minister stated useful discussions have taken place so far and that minor details will not hinder the progress of the negotiations.
China had made grounds for the meeting after its special envoy for Afghanistan was involved in a shuttle diplomacy between Islamabad and Kabul last month.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on March 14 the Chinese special envoy on Afghan affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry is shuttling between the two countries to mediate, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. He hoped that both sides would keep calm and exercise restraint, have face-to-face exchanges, achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible, and resolve differences and contradictions through dialogue.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar last month. From March 7 to 14, Special Envoy on Afghan Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yue Xiaoyong visited both Kabul and Islamabad, conducting shuttle diplomacy over the recent tensions.
“Talks still ongoing, maybe until the 6th or 7th. About the progress, these are not final meetings at all. It’s a prelude to the final decision. So there is hope for progress,” an Afghan official told Pakistan Daily.
“The teams would brief the leadership in both capitals and the decision, if any, would be announced later,” the official, who requested anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media. A Pakistani official, who also did not want to be identified by name, said “negotiators are focusing on what could be the next step.” “China wants us to give them a date for the next meeting. At best we will agree to a second round of talks,” he told Pakistan Faily, China seems satisfied at talks The process for talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan is being steadily advanced, and more information will be released in due course, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on April 3, according to Xinhua. “Both Pakistan and Afghanistan welcome China’s mediation efforts and are willing to sit down for further talks. This is a positive development,” Mao said at a regular news briefing.
Pakistani experts lauds China role Mushaid Hussain Sayed, chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute, says the Urumqi meeting is a Great news that China has successfully brokered peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan with Kabul apparently ready and willing to address Pakistan’s genuine concerns on terrorism emanating from Afghanistan via ‘verifiable mechanism’, “Pakistan-Afghanistan Border should be a border of Peace & Security, promoting prosperity for both peoples,” Mushahid wrote on X.
He thanked China for “promoting talks between ‘inseparable brothers’, Pakistan & Afghanistan, as peace is imperative to secure our Western border, given new challenges emanating from US-Israeli aggression on Iran! Both neighbours need to defuse situation!” Pakistan launched‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’ in February against what the government stated was aimed at targeting Afghan positions including military bases.
The engagement in Urumqi is the first after a temporary ceasefire expired between the night of March 23 and 24. Pakistan has not conducted any air strike since March 24. However there is no extension in the ceasefire.
