China Actively Mediating Between Taliban and Pakistan Amid Border Clashes

A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry stated on Monday that officials are actively working on mediation between the Taliban and Pakistan, holding various meetings with officials from both sides.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held telephone contacts last week with the foreign ministers of the Taliban and Pakistan to reduce tensions, the spokesperson said. China's special envoy for Afghan affairs has been traveling between Afghanistan and Pakistan to facilitate talks, while China's embassies in both countries are in close contact with officials from the two sides.

Beijing hopes both parties will exercise restraint, begin face-to-face talks as soon as possible and reach a ceasefire at the earliest opportunity, the spokesperson added. China has urged the sides to resolve differences through dialogue and said it will continue to play a constructive role in reconciliation efforts.

The comments came on the 19th day of border clashes that began on February 26. A Taliban deputy spokesperson said Pakistani attacks in the past 24 hours targeted four Afghan provinces, killing four civilians and wounding nine others.

The United Nations reported that at least 73 civilians were killed in the first two weeks of the clashes.