China’s Ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, met with Qudratullah Jamal, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Finance, and Administration at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Information and Culture, to discuss ways to strengthen tourism cooperation and expand cultural ties between the two countries.

During the meeting, Jamal urged China to share expertise and cooperate in key areas, including tourism development, capacity building and training for students at the Tourism and Hotel Management Institute, visa facilitation, tourism marketing, and investment in tourism infrastructure.

He also highlighted the historical importance of the Silk Road and called for joint efforts to organize exhibitions in both countries and promote the exchange of specialists.

Ambassador Zhao described Afghanistan–China relations as positive and reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to preserving and expanding bilateral ties. He expressed readiness to cooperate and share experiences in the discussed areas, stressing that stronger cultural and tourism relations require sustained bilateral cooperation.

Faisal Karim Kundi, the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has criticized the province’s Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi, for what he described as “defending Afghanistan” on security matters.

Speaking a press conference, the governor said the chief minister was repeatedly asking for evidence of terrorism originating from Afghanistan, whereas he should seek a detailed briefing from the inspector general of police.

“If Afghanistan is not involved in terrorism, then who is?” he questioned, adding that the international community had already acknowledged that Afghan soil was being used for terrorist activities in Pakistan, including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. 

Pakistani officials have consistently claimed that militants use Afghan territory to carry out attacks in Pakistan, an allegation that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has denied.

Russia and the United States have not engaged in any direct discussions on Afghanistan, according to Zamir Kabulov, the Russian President’s special representative for Afghanistan. Speaking to TASS, Kabulov confirmed that no negotiations between Moscow and Washington on the Afghan issue have taken place.

“No, they have not made contact, which is why there has been no such conversation so far,” he told TASS.