FO Denies Pakistan Rejected China’s Mediation Offer Between Islamabad And Kabul

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Foreign Office on Monday categorically rejected the reports that Pakistan has declined a Chinese offer to mediate talks between Afghan Taliban controlled Kabul and Islamabad. The Foreign Office spokesman termed such reports as , “ unnecessary speculation or fabrication of facts in this regard is unwarranted”.

The spokesman said that Pakistan and China regularly exchange notes on issues of mutual concern, “Pakistan and China remain trusted partners and close friends, and both maintain regular and close communication on all issues of mutual concern and shared interest” he said, “Therefore, any unnecessary speculation or fabrication of facts in this regard is unwarranted,”.

Earlier today China reiterated its offer to continue efforts to ease ongoing border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“The most urgent task is to avoid the expansion of the war and return the two countries to the negotiating table as soon as possible,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.

“China is willing to continue to make efforts to achieve reconciliation and ease relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he said, adding that Beijing has been mediating between both sides in recent days.

The remarks come days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi in a phone call that disputes between Islamabad and Kabul should be resolved through dialogue and consultation, not force.

There has been a resurgence in terrorism in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

Pakistani government had already made its position clear on the situation when through a media statement it said, “In the aftermath of recent suicide bombing incidents in Pakistan, including Imam Bargah at Islamabad, one each in Bajaur and Bannu followed by another incident today in Bannu during the holy month of Ramzan, Pakistan has conclusive evidence that these acts of terrorism were perpetrated by Khwarij on behest of their Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers”.

The statement further said that the responsibilities for these attacks were also claimed by Afghanistan based Pakistani Taliban belonging to Fitna al Khwarij (FAK) and their affiliates, and Islamic State of Khorsan Province (ISKP).

“Despite repeated efforts by Pakistan to urge the Afghan Taliban Regime to take verifiable measures to deny use of Afghan Territory by terrorist groups and foreign proxies to carry out Terrorist activities in Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban Regime failed to undertake any substantive action against them” reads the statement.

Pakistan has always striven for maintaining peace and stability in the region, but at the same time the safety and security of our citizens remains our top priority. In this backdrop, Pakistan in a retributive response, has carried out intelligence based selective targeting of seven Terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Pakistani Taliban of FAK and its affiliates and ISKP at the border region of Pakistan Afghan border with precision and accuracy.

Pakistan expects and reiterates the Interim Afghan Government to fulfil its obligations and deny use of its soil by Khwarij and terrorists against Pakistan as the safety and security of people of Pakistan comes first and foremost. Pakistan also expects the international community to play a positive and constructive role by urging the Taliban regime to stand by its commitments as part of Doha Agreement to deny use of its soil against other countries; an act vital for regional and global peace and security.

On the night of February 26, the government said Pakistan’s security forces launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq following unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban from across the border.

As that operation continues, the armed forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram sector targeted and destroyed important Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij hideouts, security sources said on Monday. “During these operations, several khawarij were killed while the rest managed to escape,” Officials said. Fitna al-Khawarij is a term the state uses to refer to the banned TTP.