Pakistan denies refusing China’s proposal for talks with Afghanistan

Pak vs Afghan-Pakistan’s foreign ministry on Monday denied reports saying it turned down China’s request to talk with Afghanistan. The talks were aimed at ending weeks of fighting between the two countries.

The conflict started on February 26, when Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border posts. This was in response to Pakistan’s earlier air strikes on camps it said belonged to the Pakistani Taliban and Daesh inside Afghanistan.

China said its special envoy had spent a week mediating between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Beijing urged both sides to agree to an immediate ceasefire after deadly clashes along the border.

Some Pakistani media reported that Islamabad had politely declined China’s offer to mediate. They said the reason was Kabul’s refusal to act against militant groups inside Afghanistan.

A Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman, Tahir Andrabi, told Arab News that Pakistan and China remain close partners and friends. He said both countries communicate regularly on all issues of shared interest. He called any reports about refusing China “false and unnecessary.”

Andrabi added that Pakistani and Chinese officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, discussed a wide range of issues, including Afghanistan. Chinese Special Representative Yue Xiaoyong also met Pakistani leaders to talk about regional peace and stability.

China has invested billions of dollars in Pakistan through its Belt and Road projects. Pakistani forces have also used Chinese-made jets in recent conflicts with India.

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Analysts say China has become an important partner of the Taliban since they returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, said that Pakistan and Afghanistan are neighbors who must solve problems through dialogue. He said the main goal now is to stop the fighting and bring both sides back to the negotiating table quickly.