The Chinese Foreign Ministry says the two sides also agree not to take measures that could escalate and complicate the situation.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning gestures during a news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, May 24, 2023. PHOTO: CHINESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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 erupted between the two countries last October.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning told a daily news briefing that the two countries agreed during meetings in China not to take actions that could aggravate or complicate the situation. Mao added that China would continue to communicate with the two countries and provide a platform for dialogue.
Pakistan conveyed three basic demands to the Afghan Taliban during the Urumqi talks, as China tried to convince the two sides to agree on a five-point framework to resolve the issues.
The three demands initially put forward by Islamabad include that Kabul officially declare the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan a terrorist organization, dismantle its infrastructure and provide verifiable evidence of its action. These demands form the basis of Pakistan’s negotiating position, which sources say has hardened due to ongoing security concerns.
Read also: 796 Afghan Taliban killed and 286 checkpoints destroyed so far in Operation Ghazab Lil Haq: Tarar
Last week, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said 796 Afghan Taliban were killed and more than 1,043 injured during Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, launched in response to “unprovoked action” from across the Afghan border.
The operation resumed after a temporary pause out of respect for the Eidul Fitr celebrations and the demands of Islamic countries. The break ended at midnight between March 23 and 24.
It was launched more than a month ago in retaliation for shootings by Afghan Taliban forces at several sites. Islamabad said the February airstrikes that triggered the escalation targeted terrorists. Islamabad has accused Afghanistan of failing to act against terrorist groups carrying out attacks in Pakistan, something the Taliban government has rejected.
Taking stock of the losses of the Afghan Taliban regime on his X account, the Information Minister said that 286 checkpoints had been destroyed and 44 others captured by Pakistani security forces.
“Two hundred and forty-nine tanks, armored vehicles and artillery guns were also destroyed during the operation,” he said. He added that the airstrikes effectively targeted 81 sites across Afghanistan.
“As part of these operations, on the night of April 2-3, an attempted physical attack on a border post in the Ghulam Khan sector by the Afghan Taliban/FAK (Fitna al-Khawarij) was completely foiled, during which they suffered heavy losses, including 37 sent to hell and more than 80 injured,” Tarar said.
