China urges Afghanistan and Pakistan to hold talks and declare ceasefire

China’s special envoy for Afghanistan has begun visits to Kabul and Islamabad to mediate between the two countries, as cross-border clashes continue following Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan in February.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Beijing hopes the two neighbours will reduce tensions and begin direct talks as soon as possible.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China wants both sides to move towards a ceasefire and resolve disputes through dialogue.

“China hopes Afghanistan and Pakistan will remain calm and restrained, hold face-to-face talks as soon as possible, achieve a ceasefire quickly, and resolve differences through dialogue,” Lin Jian said, according to the ministry.

Clashes continue after February airstrikes

The latest violence between the two countries began on 22 February, when Pakistan carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan, saying it had targeted militant camps linked to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Afghanistan rejected the allegations and described the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Since 26 February, Taliban forces have launched retaliatory attacks against Pakistani military outposts along the border. Clashes have continued on a near-daily basis, with both sides claiming to have inflicted heavy casualties. Those claims have not been independently verified.

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Previous mediation attempts by Türkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have so far failed to produce a breakthrough.

During a telephone call with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi said Kabul supports diplomacy to resolve the crisis.

“The Islamic Emirate considers dialogue and diplomacy the only way to resolve any crisis,” Muttaqi said, according to Afghanistan’s foreign ministry.

He also accused Pakistan of targeting civilians during recent strikes.

“Most of the victims are civilians, including women and children, and civilian infrastructure is being destroyed,” he said.

Wang Yi said military action would not resolve tensions between the neighbours.

“Afghanistan and Pakistan are inseparable brothers and neighbours who cannot move away from each other,” Wang said. “The use of force will only make the situation more complicated and threaten regional peace and stability.”

He added that China is ready to play a “constructive role in creating understanding and building trust” between the two countries.

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News Politics Afghanistan Pakistan border clashes China Diplomacy Middle East tensions