Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached an agreement to prevent further escalation in their ongoing conflict, following discussions facilitated by China recently, as reported by Beijing. The two neighboring countries, who were previously allies, have been engaged in a violent dispute triggered by Islamabad’s accusations that Afghanistan is providing shelter to militants responsible for attacks across the border, a claim denied by the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan. Tensions escalated notably in late February when Pakistani airstrikes were met with an Afghan ground offensive, prompting Islamabad to announce a state of “open war.”
The situation further intensified on March 16 when a Pakistani airstrike targeted a hospital in Kabul, resulting in the deaths of numerous civilians, drawing widespread condemnation and reigniting calls for negotiations to end the conflict. “Informal meetings involving representatives from China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan were conducted in Urumqi, Xinjiang, from April 1 to 7,” stated Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
