Afghanistan seeking China important role in Afghan-led peace negotiations

Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) says, we will ask China to pressure Pakistan more on peace negotiations.

“The Chinese colleagues have played an essential and important role in Afghanistan peace and security talks, because China has a close relation with Pakistan; therefore, we encourage China to continue serious discussions with Pakistan on Afghan peace talks,” Deputy Minister of Political Affairs, Hekmat Khalil Karzai said.

Mr. Karzai emphasizes on China significant role and believes Beijing can play an important role on making Pakistan to bring Taliban insurgents into the table.

Afghan officials are closely insisting on China role in peace negotiations as earlier the Chief Executive of Afghanistan, Abdullah Abdullah said at a conference organized by an Indian media group,” The philosophy behind having China involved in Afghan peace-talks is because we want to use China influence over the fight against terrorists, China have held one, two or three rounds of talks with the Taliban in the past few months”.

Afghan officials also insisting on fight against terrorist groups which actively operating in the region and Afghanistan including the Islamic State (IS) militant groups.

“Terrorism is a big problem and a huge issue for us in the region. Terrorist groups such as Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Tahrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or Taliban movement of Pakistan, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and Islamic State (IS) are a big threat to the security of both Afghanistan and China,” Karzai said during a joint seminar under the name of Afghanistan-China Relations: Prospects and Opportunities.

Nowadays all Afghan officials are promising that peace initiatives will begin soon, but there is no indication of practical talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban insurgent groups.

While peace initiatives begin in cooperation with Pakistan and China, Islamic State (IS) is trying to root in Afghanistan.

Reported by: Farahnaz Frotan