LONDON : Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing has said that his countryis in contact with the Afghan Taliban’s Qatar office and has repeatedlyrequested them to participate in talks.

However, the ambassador, in an interview with BBC Urdu service, said thatChina does not have influence over the Afghan Taliban.

Speaking of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said that hiscountry wishes for cordial ties between the two neighbours and it is alsostriving for Afghan reconciliation process.

Commenting on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Jing said themulti-billion dollar corridor will be expanded to other regional states,including Afghanistan, as well.

He said the corridor is in its first phase, under which, work is ongoing on21 projects, whereas another 20 are in the pipeline.

The ambassador said that around 10,000 Chinese nationals have been workingon CPEC projects in Pakistan, and he has been satisfied with steps taken byPakistan for their security.

Around 60,000 Pakistanis have also been working on CPEC-related projects,according to the ambassador.

Jing said law and order situation in Pakistan has significantly improved,compared to the past.

The ambassador further said he is hopeful that Gwadar is close to becomingan international trade hub.

To a question about Baloch resistance, the Chinese Ambassador said in hisopinion they are not real Pakistanis otherwise they would have thoughtabout Pakistani interests. – INP