Pakistan, China reaffirm commitment to Afghanistan’s integration and security

Pakistan and China call for an inclusive Afghan government, counter-terrorism cooperation, and regional stability, as Islamabad explores direct talks with Kabul on key bilateral issues.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, in Beijing. Afghanistan's integration into the international community and the process of sustainable development of the country were among the key topics discussed. 

According to the joint statement, Islamabad and Beijing urged the global community to work together in encouraging the Interim Afghan Government to establish an inclusive political system, embrace moderate policies and foster good relations with neighboring countries.

Additionally, they emphasized the need for enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels to help Afghanistan implement comprehensive measures against terrorism. Furthermore, Afghanistan was urged to prevent its territory from being used against neighboring states, the broader region and beyond.

Pakistan and China reaffirmed their commitment to playing a constructive role in Afghanistan’s stable development and supporting its integration into the international community.

In another recent development, Pakistani media has highlighted that Ali Amin Gandapur, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has reaffirmed his plan to dispatch a delegation to Afghanistan to tackle rising concerns. The proposed strategy involves sending a small government team alongside tribal elders to engage in preliminary talks with Afghan counterparts.

Should these initial discussions yield positive outcomes, a more extensive meeting or jirga comprising tribal leaders and government officials from both nations would be organized to further the dialogue.

Gandapur emphasized that the federal government would be consulted before any delegation is sent to Kabul.

The anticipated discussions are likely to address critical issues such as border security, trade relations, and broader bilateral cooperation. However, this is not the first time such a proposal has been made. A similar initiative by the provincial government was rejected by the federal government, which argued that foreign policy matters fall solely under federal jurisdiction, not provincial authority.

A significant point of contention between Afghanistan and Pakistan remains the presence of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group in Afghanistan. Pakistan has been actively seeking ways to persuade the interim Afghan government to prevent the TTP from using Afghan territory to launch attacks against Pakistan. This issue has further complicated the already tense relations between the two neighboring countries.

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