On Sunday, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire under the joint mediation of Qatar and Turkey. Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the truce and said both sides will meet again in Istanbul on October 25 to solidify the agreement.
At a regular press briefing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun welcomed the breakthrough, highlighting the deep ties between China and its neighbors.
“Both Pakistan and Afghanistan are China's traditional friendly neighbors and each other's neighbor that cannot be moved away,” Guo said.
China commended the contributions made by the relevant countries and expressed its willingness to work with the international community in advancing Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. “China sincerely hopes for and supports the continued dialogue and consultation between Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their differences, achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, and jointly safeguard the peace and stability of both countries and the region,” Guo added.
With fresh momentum, this ceasefire could pave the way for deeper regional cooperation and stability. All eyes will be on the upcoming Istanbul talks, where leaders aim to turn this pause in hostilities into lasting peace.
Reference(s):
MOFA: China welcomes ceasefire agreement between Pakistan, Afghanistan
cgtn.com
