Muttaqi, Wang Yi discuss Afghanistan-China ties, regional situation

KABUL (Pajhwok): Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, in a phone call with his Chinese counterpart, said Afghanistan has the legitimate right to defend its people and territorial integrity while supporting a political solution rather than an escalation of tensions.

According to a statement from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Muttaqi spoke by phone with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and China’s foreign minister.

The statement said the two sides discussed the expansion of bilateral relations between Afghanistan and China, the regional security situation and the impact of ongoing regional developments.

Muttaqi emphasized the Islamic Emirate’s economy-oriented foreign policy, saying Afghanistan seeks to expand trust, mutual respect and economic cooperation with all neighboring and regional countries.

He also referred to the recent regional security situation and stressed that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) believes dialogue and diplomacy are the only ways to resolve crises.

The Afghan foreign minister also shared the IEA’s position on what he described as Pakistan’s recent violations of Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, saying: “Afghanistan has the legitimate right to defend its people and territorial integrity, but at the same time supports a political solution instead of escalating tensions.”

Muttaqi added that Pakistan’s bombardments and missile attacks mostly target civilians — including women and children — and damage civilian facilities, citing the previous night’s attacks in Kabul and Kandahar as an example.

According to the statement, Wang Yi emphasized the importance of further strengthening positive relations between Afghanistan and China and said Beijing views political understanding and dispute-resolution mechanisms as essential for regional stability and security.

The statement said he welcomed Afghanistan’s dialogue-focused stance and noted that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is unacceptable.

Wang Yi also commented on the situation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying military actions are not a solution and only increase tensions.

He added that China is ready to play a constructive role in promoting understanding and trust.

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