China says Pak-Afghan peace talks advancing

Negotiations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are advancing steadily, China said on Friday, following reports that the neighbours were meeting there to try to end their worst conflict since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

China has been trying to mediate between the allies turned foes, holding telephone calls with their foreign ministers and sending a special envoy on visits in March. "Both Pakistan and Afghanistan attach importance to, and welcome, China's mediation, and are willing to sit down for talks again, which is a positive development," foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily press conference.