China announces full scale mediation between Pakistan-Afghanistan
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President Ashraf Ghani met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Kazakhstan on Friday where they discussed the ongoing Afghan peace process among other mutual interest issues.
According to Pakistani officials, Ghani and Sharif met for 45 minutes and talked about improving bilateral ties and Afghanistan’s peace process.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping in a meeting with Ghani pledged that Beijing will mediate in relieving tensions between Kabul and Islamabad and will host a trilateral summit.
“Our demand is clear; Pakistan should honestly cooperate in fighting against terrorism. In this meeting, it was agreed that a trilateral meeting will be held among Kabul, Islamabad and Beijing,” Dawa Khan Minapal, President Ghani’s deputy spokesman said.
A number of political analysts said China is willing to mediate between Kabul and Islamabad because of its investments and economic interests in the region and that Beijing has the power to force Pakistan to fight terror sincerely.
“Tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan is an obstacle on the way of China’s economic activities. China has long strategic relations with Pakistan and also cannot easily ignore Afghanistan; therefore, it is willing to mediate between Kabul and Islamabad,” university lecturer Nasrullah Stanikzai said. - TOLO
