Afghanistan and Pakistan agree on de-escalation of conflict

Afghanistan and Pakistan, following a week of informal consultations in the Chinese city of Urumqi with the mediation of China, have reached a consensus on the need for a swift resolution of disagreements and committed to refraining from actions that could escalate tensions.

This was announced by the official spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning.

"From April 1 to 7, representatives of China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan held a series of informal meetings in Urumqi. The parties reaffirmed their commitment to resolving disagreements through dialogue and consultations, and pledged not to take actions that would lead to an escalation of the situation," the diplomat stated. She clarified that the negotiations involved interdepartmental delegations, including representatives from diplomatic services, defense structures, and security agencies. According to the spokesperson, participants of the "Urumqi process" recognized dialogue as the only realistic way to address accumulated issues.

She noted that during the consultations, the delegations discussed paths toward a comprehensive settlement of Afghan-Pakistani relations and identified key issues requiring priority resolution. The spokesperson added that China will continue to provide a platform for dialogue and promote the strengthening of practical cooperation in the region.

On the evening of February 26, clashes resumed on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Kabul stated that it was conducting a military operation in response to recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif reported that his country and the Taliban government in Afghanistan are now in a state of open armed confrontation.

Source: TASS