BEIJING: China has urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to ease rising tensions through peaceful negotiations rather than military action.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the appeal during a phone conversation with Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, according to a statement released by China’s foreign ministry on Friday.
During the call, Wang emphasized that disagreements between the two neighboring countries should be addressed through dialogue and consultation instead of force. He encouraged both sides to remain calm, exercise restraint, and arrange face-to-face discussions as soon as possible.
The Chinese minister also stressed the importance of reaching an immediate ceasefire and resolving their differences through diplomatic engagement. He warned that further military action would only worsen the situation and increase tensions between the two nations.
The statement came after Pakistan reportedly carried out overnight airstrikes between March 12 and 13 near Kandahar airport in Afghanistan. The strikes targeted a fuel depot, escalating what has become the most serious confrontation between the two neighbors in recent years, despite China’s attempts to mediate.
Security sources also released video footage showing Pakistani military strikes on oil storage facilities at Kandahar airfield. Officials said the targets were being used by the Afghan Taliban and militant groups to support their operations, and the facilities were destroyed during the attack.
