Afghanistan, Pakistan agree to avoid escalation: China
· CNA · JoinRead a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
BEIJING: Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to avoid any escalation in their armed conflict, during talks hosted by China in recent days, Beijing said on Wednesday (Apr 8).
The neighbours and one-time allies have been locked in violent confrontation over claims from Islamabad that Afghanistan is harbouring militants responsible for cross-border attacks, which the Taliban government denies.
Hostilities escalated sharply at the end of February, when Pakistani airstrikes were followed by an Afghan ground offensive, with Islamabad declaring an "open war".
On Mar 16, a Pakistani strike on a hospital in Kabul killed hundreds of civilians, sparking international condemnation and renewing calls for talks on ending the conflict.
CNA Games
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less
"Representatives from China, Afghanistan and Pakistan held a week of informal meetings in Urumqi, Xinjiang, from Apr 1 to 7," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Wednesday.
The three delegations "engaged in frank and pragmatic discussions in a positive atmosphere", she said at a regular news conference in Beijing.
According to the spokeswoman, Afghanistan and Pakistan stated "their commitment to resolving their differences as soon as possible and realising a return to normalcy in bilateral relations, agreeing not to take any actions that would escalate or complicate the situation".
Diplomats from Pakistan and Afghanistan had already reported the China-hosted talks last week, but Beijing had not confirmed them.
A truce implemented during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, concluded on Mar 24.
The land border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been almost completely closed during the fighting, resulting in significant economic consequences.
Newsletter
Morning Brief
Subscribe to CNA’s Morning Brief
An automated curation of our top stories to start your day.
Sign up for our newsletters
Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app