China mediates improvement of Afghanistan-Pakistan ties

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China, Afghanistan and Pakistan reached an agreement to enhance trilateral cooperation and improve Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Kabul and Islamabad for mediation over the weekend, a joint press release by the three countries said.

During his trip, Wang held talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, as well as senior officials of the two countries.

The relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan deteriorated as their security forces exchanged fire in a border area on May 5, killing dozens of people. The skirmish was a result of escalated tensions over border fencing by Pakistan in disputed areas.

Finding common ground

According to Wang, the main purpose of his visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan was to facilitate improvement in the two countries' relations and try to find a common ground for both sides.

Wang said both Afghanistan and Pakistan had expressed good will and shown determination to improve relations and build trust together. He called the agreement a positive signal to the international community and an important step for Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.

Afghan soldiers at Chaman crossing point in Kandahar, Afghanistan, which is closed following clashes at the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan on May 5, 2017. /VCG Photo

With China's mediation, Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to actively improve relations, enhance political mutual trust, strengthen cooperation in various areas including the fight against terrorism and confront security challenges together, the press release said.

The two countries will establish a crisis management and control mechanism, which will include mutually agreed precautionary measures for timely and effective intelligence communication and information sharing.

The mechanism is expected to enable communication between the two sides when unexpected incidents occur and promote resolution of disputes through dialogue, thus preventing escalations that would damage bilateral ties, the press release stated.

Expanding trilateral cooperation

China, Afghanistan and Pakistan are committed to making joint efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability and strengthen cooperation in the fields of interconnectivity and intercommunication as well as economy, according to the press release.

The three countries have agreed to establish a China-Afghanistan-Pakistan foreign minister dialogue mechanism, which will focus on expanding cooperation.

They agree that peace and reconciliation are the fundamental solution to the Afghan issue, while violence leads nowhere. China and Pakistan support the "Afghan-owned and Afghan-led" reconciliation process, the statement added.

Afghan policemen gather at the site of a suicide bombing attack by Taliban insurgents on the police headquarters in Gardez, Afghanistan, on June 18, 2017. /VCG Photo

The three countries also urge the Afghan Taliban to participate in the reconciliation process at an early date.

In addition, they call for the Quadrilateral Coordination Group of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the United States to be revived to facilitate the Taliban's involvement in the peace process.

They also agree that the work of the liaison group between the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Afghanistan should be resumed as soon as possible.

Seizing opportunities of B&R Initiative

Another topic during talks between the Chinese foreign minister and the Afghan and Pakistani presidents was how to expand cooperation under China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the initiative consists of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (R, Rear) meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L2, Rear) in Kabul, Afghanistan, June 24, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

Afghanistan, located at the juncture of Belt and Road routes and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, would like to enhance cooperation with China in areas such as economy, trade, investment, electricity and transportation, Ghani told Wang on Saturday.

Wang meanwhile said China welcomes Afghanistan's participation in the initiative and will work more closely with the Central Asian country in various fields.

Meeting with Hussain on Sunday, the Chinese foreign minister described Pakistan as an important partner for China in promoting international cooperation for the Belt and Road Initiative, adding that China wanted to work closely with Pakistan in planning and building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Wang also congratulated Pakistan on becoming an official member of the SCO earlier this month.

Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain (R) shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi upon his arrival at President House in Islamabad, Pakistan, June 25, 2017. /VCG Photo

Fighting terrorism

Anti-terror cooperation was high on the three countries' agenda and they condemned recent terror attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Ghani vowed to continue to crack down on the "East Turkistan Islamic Movement" separatist group to ensure the security of both Afghanistan and China.

Afghanistan is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in the fight against terrorism and resolutely crack down on the "East Turkistan Islamic Movement", Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani also told Wang.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shakes hands with his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani in Kabul, Afghanistan, June 24, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

In separate meetings with the Pakistani president and Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, Wang expressed gratitude for the two countries' efforts in fighting the movement.

During his talks with Ghani, Wang meanwhile said China is willing to offer help to friends in need, but will never interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, calling China a common friend of Afghanistan and Pakistan.