China's mediation eases fighting between Pakistan, Afghanistan: sources

Chinese foreign ministry says special envoy for Afghanistan is currently shuttling between two countries to mediate

Chinese mediation efforts, including ​a message from President Xi Jinping, have helped ease the worst fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan since ‌the Taliban returned to power in 2021, three Pakistani government officials said.

The officials said a meeting between the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif late last month included a message from Xi to cease hostilities.

Neither side has reported any Pakistani air strikes on ​Afghanistan in recent days and ground fighting along the 2,600-kilometre border has tapered off, although daily clashes continue ​to be reported.

Read: China steps in to defuse Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions

China has said it is in contact with both countries about ending hostilities but ⁠Mosharraf Zaidi, the prime minister's spokeperson for foreign media, who has previously said there would not be any talks with the Taliban, did ​not respond to questions about Beijing's efforts.

Pakistani security officials have said the military campaign will continue until desired goals were achieved, ​which was to prevent terrorist attacks in the country launched from Afghan soil.

The Foreign Office and military did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Islamabad launched air strikes on Afghanistan on February 26, saying the Taliban were providing a safe haven to terrorists carrying out attacks in Pakistan. ​Kabul denies the charge and says terrorism in Pakistan is an internal problem.

The Chinese efforts came as Qatar, Saudi Arabia ​and Turkiye, who hosted talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan during previous clashes in October, have been embroiled in the war in the Middle ‌East following ⁠the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

"China's special envoy for Afghanistan affairs is currently shuttling between the two countries to mediate, while Chinese embassies in both nations maintain close communication with the respective parties," the Chinese foreign ministry told Reuters in an e-mail.

"The most urgent task is to prevent the fighting from expanding and for the two countries to return to the negotiating ​table as soon as possible."

Also Read: Over 600 Afghan Taliban killed as Pakistan continues Ghazab Lil Haq strikes: Tarar

The ​foreign ministry added that Foreign ⁠Minister Wang Yi held telephone talks with Deputy Prime Minister and FM Ishaq Dar on Tuesday to discuss the conflict.

China's ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, and the special envoy ​Yue Xiaoyong met Afghanistan's acting FM Amir Khan Muttaqi this week, the Afghan foreign ​ministry said in ⁠a statement.

Afghanistan and Pakistan have said they inflicted heavy damage on the other in the conflict and killed hundreds of opposition troops, without providing evidence. Reuters has not been able to verify the reports.

Beijing, a longtime Pakistani ally, has invested heavily in mines ⁠and minerals ​in both nations.

The investments include over $65 billion in road, rail and other ​development projects in Pakistan, part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative to expand land and sea trade routes to Europe and Africa.