PNN – Following recent published reports about Beijing’s efforts to de-escalate relations between Islamabad and Kabul, Pakistan’s defense minister has confirmed third-party mediation to help improve his country’s relations with Afghanistan.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network from Pakistan’s Geo News Network, Khawaja Muhammad Asif admitted during an interview without referring to China or any other country that effort to de-escalate our relations with the caretaker government of Afghanistan continue.
He added: Countries that have good relations with both Pakistan and Afghanistan are trying to normalize relations between Islamabad and Kabul as two neighboring countries.
The Minister of Defense of Pakistan emphasized: Our interactions with the current rulers of Afghanistan have started since the 70s and now we believe that the situation will soon return to normal.
He described the only difference between Islamabad and Kabul as the use of some elements of Afghanistan’s territory (against Pakistan) and added: Islamabad has repeatedly raised this demand with Kabul and expects that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) will not abuse Afghanistan’s territory.
The Minister of Defense of Pakistan said about relations with America and the possible effects of internal developments in that country that Islamabad’s relations with the United States have always faced ups and downs and we know better how to defend our interests.
After the visit of the special envoy of the Chinese government for Afghanistan affairs to Islamabad at the end of last month, the Pakistani newspaper Express Tribune wrote, quoting informed diplomatic sources: Beijing is trying to mediate between Islamabad and Kabul in order to reach a result such as reducing tensions.
Yue Xiaoyong, the special envoy of the Chinese government for Afghanistan affairs, met with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan during a trip to Islamabad.