BEIJING (Oct 13) – China on Monday called on Pakistan and Afghanistan to show restraint and resolve their mutual concerns through dialogue and consultations, following deadly clashes along their shared border that left dozens of soldiers dead over the weekend.
“Recently, conflicts have occurred between Pakistan and Afghanistan, leading to tense relations, which we are deeply concerned about,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during a media briefing in Beijing.
He urged both nations to focus on “the broader picture,” stressing that “China sincerely hopes that both sides will remain calm and restrained, adhere to resolving mutual concerns through dialogue and consultation, avoid escalating conflicts, and jointly maintain peace and stability in both countries and the region.”
The rare public statement comes amid a spike in cross-border fighting between Afghan Taliban forces and the Pakistani military, with reports of shelling and ground engagements in several frontier areas. The clashes have worsened relations between the two neighbours, who have accused each other of harbouring militant groups.
China, which maintains close ties with both Islamabad and Kabul, has long sought to play a stabilising role in South Asia and has major economic and strategic interests in the region under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).