Chinese and Pakistani Leaders Call For Inclusive Government In Afghanistan

In a joint statement, Chinese and Pakistani leaders have called for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan. The statement urges the Taliban to resolutely fight terrorism and adopt moderate policies.

Chinese and Pakistani leaders met on Friday, 7 June, in Beijing. Chinese president Xi Jinping assured Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif that China, as always, firmly supports Pakistan and its national sovereignty. The joint statement, released on Sunday, indicates that China and Pakistan have agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on the issue of Afghanistan.

Another part of the statement calls on the Taliban to fight terrorism resolutely and prevent Afghan soil from being used for terrorist activities. Both sides also called for coordinated international efforts to address the challenges in Afghanistan.

The emphasis on combating terrorism comes after Chinese citizens were recently targeted and killed in Pakistan. Recently, Asiaweek reported that following Islamabad's failure to prevent attacks on Chinese interests in Pakistan, Chinese diplomats have stepped in. The Chinese media outlet wrote that Beijing has conditioned its investments in Afghanistan on the prevention of attacks on its interests in Pakistan.