China today announced that it will launch "shuttle diplomacy" between Pakistan and Afghanistan to ease tensions between the two neighbours and promote the peace process in war-torn Afghanistan amidst a spurt in terror attacks in both the countries.
China will conduct the shuttle diplomacy between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during his visit to both the countries, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang. Wang visited Islamabad and Kabul on June 24 and 25.
During the visit, the two countries agreed to establish the bilateral Crisis Management Mechanism, Geng said.
The main targets for the visit is to implement the consensus between the state leaders and in addition the requirement of Afghanistan and Pakistan as directed by Chinese leaders, he said.
"We will conduct shuttle diplomacy to help improve relations between the two countries within our capacity and also to promote the peace process in Afghanistan," Geng said.
Asked about Afghanistans allegations that Pakistan is harbouring Taliban militants who were blamed for the recurring terrorist attacks in that country, Geng said "this shuttle visit made by Wang was conducted in agreement with Afghanistani and Pakistani sides".
"During this visit, the two countries have sent out goodwill messages to each other and two sides agreed to establish the bilateral Crisis Management Mechanism. We think that this is important step forward towards the improvement of their bilateral relationship and we also stated many times that maintenance of friendly relationships between two countries is conducive to regional stability and security and international efforts against terrorism, we will continue our efforts in this regard," Geng said.
Afghanistan in recent months has alleged that Pakistan is carrying out destabilisation and terrorist activities inside the country.
"We call it an undeclared war because the objectives are not set. We do not know what the objectives are for Pakistan. And that is something that we have been trying to discover," Afghanistans Ambassador to the US Hamdullah Mohib told an audience at an event organised by Indus think-tank in Washington where his Pakistan counterpart Aizaz Chaudhry was also present.
China, an "all-weather ally" of Pakistan in recent years, has stepped its engagement with Afghanistan by appointing a special envoy on Afghanistan.
It is also part of Afghanistan, Pakistan and US dialogue mechanism.
Wangs visit comes in the backdrop of reported move by US President Donald Trump to increase the American troop levels from the present 8,000 reversing his predecessor Barak Obamas move for a gradual pull-out, which encouraged Beijing to step in to play a bigger role.
A joint statement issued at the end of Wangs visit said the three countries agreed to establish Foreign Ministers Meeting Mechanism to conduct cooperation in areas of interests. They have also agreed to launch a coordinating team consisting of China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US.
"This visit is an important step forward in improvement of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan," Geng added.
On Friday, twin blasts tore through a market crowded with Eid shoppers in a mainly Shia town, a suicide bomber blew up his explosives-laden car and militants opened fire on police in separate attacks in Pakistans three major cities, killing 62 people and wounding nearly 100.
On June 1, Afghanistan cut its cricketing ties with Pakistan after blasts in Kabul killed 90 people and injured 463 others.
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