China pushes to ease Pak-Afghan tensions

Top Chinese diplomat visits Kabul days after Islamabad briefing on TTP threat

ISLAMABAD:

China seems to have launched a fresh diplomatic effort aimed at defusing brewing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan over the terrorist sanctuaries that Kabul has yet to dismantle despite Islamabad's repeated demands.

Following a visit to Islamabad, a top Chinese diplomat dealing with Afghanistan travelled to Kabul over the weekend to meet with the Taliban leadership.

China's Special Envoy for Afghanistan Yue Xiaoyong held talks with Afghan Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs Maulvi Abdul Kabir, Defence Minister Mullah Yaqub and others.

His visit to Kabul came days after he was briefed by authorities in Islamabad on the threat posed by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups operating from Afghan soil.

Sources said Pakistan conveyed to the envoy that without addressing the terror threat, bilateral relations with Kabul would not move forward.

It is believed that the visit of the Chinese envoy to Kabul and Islamabad was part of Beijing's latest push to ease tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

China has in the past attempted to mediate between the estranged countries on the TTP issue, though those efforts yielded no progress.

Beijing is worried about the fallout of escalating Pakistan-Afghanistan hostilities on its regional ambitions for greater connectivity and trade.

Besides, the persistent presence of terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan also threatens Beijing's interests.

Chinese nationals have come under terror attacks in Pakistan. This year at least 7 Chinese nationals were killed in two different terrorist attacks.

Pakistan's investigations into the March 26 Besham terrorist attack concluded that there was a network connected to TTP was behind the attack. The probe also revealed that the suicide bomber was an Afghan national and the vehicle used in the attack was smuggled into Pakistan.

Similarly, Pakistan believes Baloch terrorist groups are now closely working with the TTP and also have their training camps in Afghanistan.

However, unlike other countries, China usually follows a carefully crafted policy where such concerns are conveyed from behind closed doors.

Officials here believe that they have this understanding that the Chinese envoy forcefully raised the issue of terrorist sanctuaries with the Afghan leadership.

A statement issued by the Afghan Deputy Prime Minister's Office indicated that Pakistan, and Afghanistan relationship was one of the subjects of discussions.

According to the statement, Mr Yue Xiaoyong commended Afghanistan's progress over the past three years and stressed the significance of fostering improved relations and mutual understanding among Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China.

The reference to Pakistan, Afghanistan and China, according to observers, shows that Beijing is keen to see issues between Islamabad and Kabul are sorted out.

The Afghan deputy prime minister told the Chinese envoy that the Islamic Emirate has consistently guaranteed its neighbours and the international community that Afghanistan poses no threat to any nation and has upheld this assurance over the past three years.

"The Deputy Prime Minister further noted that Afghanistan is transitioning from a prolonged period of conflict and is prioritizing the revitalisation of its national economy and the expansion of regional cooperation," according to the readout, which suggests that the Afghan side tried to placate concerns of China and Pakistan.