China’s Foreign Ministry says both sides also agree not to take actions that could aggravate and complicate the situation.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning gestures during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing on May 24, 2023. PHOTO: CHINESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGNERS
China’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed during peace talks in Urumqi to explore a comprehensive solution to the conflict that broke out between the two countries last October.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a daily news conference that both countries agreed at meetings in China not to take measures that could aggravate or complicate the situation. Mao added that China will continue to communicate with both countries and provide a platform for dialogue.
Pakistan conveyed three key demands to the Afghan Taliban during talks in Urumqi, as China tried to convince both sides to agree on a five-point framework to resolve the issues.
The three demands raised by Islamabad at the outset include that Kabul formally declare Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan a terrorist organization, dismantle its infrastructure and provide verifiable evidence of the action. These demands form the basis of Pakistan’s negotiating position, which sources say has hardened amid persistent security concerns.
Also read: 796 Afghan Taliban killed and 286 checkpoints destroyed in Operation Ghazab Lil Haq so far: Tarar
Last week, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said 796 Afghan Taliban operatives had been killed and more than 1,043 wounded during the ongoing “Operation Ghazab Lil Haq”, launched in response to “unprovoked actions” from across the Afghan border.
The operation resumed after a temporary pause in deference to Eidul Fitr celebrations and requests from Islamic countries. The pause ended at midnight on March 23-24.
It was launched more than a month ago in retaliation for Afghan Taliban forces firing at multiple locations. Islamabad said its February airstrikes that sparked the escalation targeted terrorists. Islamabad accused Afghanistan of failing to act against terrorist groups carrying out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government rejected.
Providing a summary of the Afghan Taliban regime’s losses in its X account, the information minister said 286 checkpoints had been destroyed and another 44 captured by Pakistani security forces.
“During the operation, 249 tanks, armored vehicles and artillery guns were also destroyed,” he said. He added that the airstrikes effectively targeted 81 locations across Afghanistan.
“As part of these operations, on the night of April 2-3, an attempt to physically attack a border post in the Ghulam Khan sector by the Afghan Taliban/FAK (Fitna al-Khawarij) was completely thwarted and they suffered heavy casualties, including up to 37 sent to hell and more than 80 wounded,” Tarar said.
