RASC News Agency: In a joint declaration, the governments of Pakistan and China have urged the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to pursue a “moderate” approach and form an inclusive government that represents the country’s diverse populace. Both Prime Ministers Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan and Li Qiang of China emphasized the critical importance of implementing a verifiable and effective counterterrorism strategy in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan released this statement on Tuesday, following high-level discussions between the two nations.
Li Qiang’s visit to Islamabad, a part of his four-day trip to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, led to this collaborative announcement. Both leaders underscored the urgency of ensuring that Afghanistan territory is not used to destabilize neighboring countries. Pakistan has consistently accused the Taliban of harboring and supporting insurgent groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad claims is responsible for attacks originating from Afghanistan soil.
Additionally, Pakistan has linked attacks on Chinese nationals within its borders to militants operating from Afghanistan. The Taliban, however, counter these accusations by alleging that Pakistan supports ISIS factions within Afghanistan. The prime ministers of both nations highlighted the need for enhanced cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels to combat terrorism effectively. They urged the Taliban to take visible and verifiable actions against terrorist groups within Afghanistan. Sharif and Li also reiterated the importance of increasing communication and coordination on Afghanistan’s evolving situation. They called for “coordinated international efforts” aimed at encouraging the Taliban to establish a political framework that is inclusive and adopts more moderate policies.
Furthermore, Pakistan and China agreed to play a proactive role in supporting Afghanistan’s sustainable development and facilitating its integration into the global community. During his visit, Prime Minister Li Qiang referred to Pakistan as China’s “iron brother,” and both nations signed numerous agreements covering key sectors such as transit, trade, and security. The Taliban regime, however, remains internationally isolated due to its ethnic-based governance and its failure to form a genuinely inclusive government.
