PAK-AFGHAN relations: China welcomes peace overtures

ISLAMABAD: China welcomes the positive efforts made by Pakistan and Afghanistan to improve bilateral relations, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang at the regular press conference on Monday. He was responding to request for comments on reports that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani met with General Raheel Sharif on Sunday. Office of the Afghan president said that both sides agreed to hold a quadrilateral meeting between Afghanistan, Pakistan, the US and China next month on a comprehensive road map for peace in Afghanistan. Regarding China’s position on holding such a quadrilateral meeting, Lu Kang said: “We have noted the relevant report. As the neighbour to both the two countries, China welcomes the positive efforts made by both sides to improve bilateral relations which are conducive to resuming the Afghan reconciliation process and realising regional stability.” He said China supports an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process, stays open to any initiative that will lead to national peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2015.