China, Pakistan call for ceasefire in Afghanistan

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): China and Pakistan have urged all Afghan stakeholders to agree on a comprehensive ceasefire and work together for a broad-based, inclusive and negotiated political settlement.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi issued the call at a meeting on Saturday.

With the violence in Afghanistan escalating, the top diplomats held the third session of the foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province.

In a joint statement, the two sides reiterated their commitment to facilitating and supporting an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process.

They underlined the early realisation of a peaceful, stable, united and prosperous Afghanistan, which would firmly combat terrorism and live-in harmony with its neighbours.

China and Pakistan promised joint actions to tackle the spillover of the deteriorating security situation in the war-devastated neighbour.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Wang hit out at what he called a hasty US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The US had neither achieved the goal of combating terrorism, nor brought peace to the country, he claimed, alleging the move had led to a new security black hole in Afghanistan.

Wang said China and Pakistan were facing direct effects from the worsening situation in Afghanistan. Qureshi’s visit was aimed to enhance cooperation and deal with the situation, he explained.

The two nations pledged to work jointly for peace to prevent a possible civil war in Afghanistan, and mediate negotiations among the Afghans, Wang concluded.

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