Pakistan Confirms Contacts with China to Reduce Tensions with Afghanistan
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed it is in contact with China regarding recent tensions with Afghanistan. Tahir Andarabi, spokesman for the ministry, stated that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar recently held a telephone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi about recent developments. Andarabi said at a weekly press briefing that Islamabad and Beijing share a 'long-standing strategic partnership' based on mutual trust and deep respect, with common views on many issues including Afghanistan, and are consulting through bilateral and trilateral talks.
China's Foreign Ministry said its special envoy on Afghanistan is shuttling between Kabul and Islamabad to facilitate dialogue and reduce tensions. A Pakistani spokesman noted that a recent delegation visiting Afghanistan for talks was not an official effort by Islamabad but part of an informal initiative. China emphasized preventing the spread of conflict and a swift return by Afghanistan and Pakistan to negotiations.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that four civilians, including women and children, were killed and 14 injured in Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul's Pul-e-Charkhi area on Thursday night. UNAMA expressed concern over rising violence and called for an immediate halt to hostilities. Acting Head Georgette Gagnon warned of risks from continued fire exchanges, now in their 14th day across six provinces and eight districts, with 75 civilians killed and 193 injured since February 26.
Afghanistan's Defense Ministry said its air forces targeted military sites in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in response to overnight Pakistani aggression, destroying a fort, command center, ammunition depots and barracks, inflicting heavy casualties.
Zabihullah Mujahid of the Islamic Emirate strongly condemned Pakistani bombardments in several provinces, calling it an overt crime and aggression that will not go unanswered.
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