China peace talks with Pakistan deemed useful by Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that peace talks with Pakistan are being held in China, citing the discussions as “useful”. The talks, which began on April 1, aim to halt cross-border fighting between the two neighbors, who have been at odds since last week. The conflict, which started following an invitation by China, has resulted in hundreds of deaths and displaced over 94,000 people.

According to the Foreign Ministry’s Deputy Spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal, Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with China’s ambassador to Afghanistan on Tuesday, thanking Beijing for arranging and hosting the talks. Muttaqi also credited Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates for their mediation efforts.

Takal stated that Muttaqi expressed hope that minor interpretations would not hinder the progress of the negotiations, noting that constructive discussions have taken place so far. The talks are an effort to stop the conflict that began in February, which has seen clashes disrupt a ceasefire brokered by Qatar in October.

The conflict has been marked by air strikes and shelling across the border, with Afghanistan accusing Pakistan of carrying out attacks on civilians. Pakistan has denied targeting civilians, stating its strikes were against military facilities. The United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan reported that 100,000 people in two Afghan districts near the border have been completely cut off by the fighting since February.

The international community has expressed concern over the conflict, particularly given the presence of other armed groups, including al-Qaeda and the ISIL (ISIS) group, in the region.

Source: Al Jazeera