Diplomatic intervention by China, including a message from Xi Jinping, has helped reduce intense fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to Pakistani government officials, as tensions between the neighboring countries show signs of easing after weeks of clashes.
Officials said a meeting between China’s ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif late last month included a message from President Xi urging both sides to halt hostilities and pursue dialogue.
Since the diplomatic outreach, neither side has reported new Pakistani air strikes on Afghanistan, and the intensity of ground fighting along the 2,600-kilometre border has significantly decreased. However, sporadic daily clashes continue to be reported.
Tensions since Taliban takeover
Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have been strained since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghan authorities of allowing militant groups to operate from Afghan territory and launch attacks inside Pakistan.
The latest escalation followed Pakistani air strikes on Afghanistan on February 26, which Islamabad said targeted militant groups operating across the border. Afghan authorities rejected the accusations, arguing that militancy in Pakistan is primarily a domestic issue.
Pakistani officials maintain that the military campaign will continue until security objectives are achieved, particularly preventing cross-border militant attacks.
Diplomatic channels remain active
China has confirmed it is in contact with both governments to encourage de-escalation. According to China’s foreign ministry, its Special Envoy for Afghanistan Affairs is currently travelling between the two countries in an effort to mediate.
“The most urgent task is to prevent the fighting from expanding and for the two countries to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible,” the ministry said in a statement.
Chinese diplomats in both countries are maintaining close communication with officials in Islamabad and Kabul as part of the mediation effort.
High-level diplomatic engagement
As part of these diplomatic efforts, Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, held telephone talks with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar earlier this week to discuss the conflict and possible steps toward de-escalation.
Meanwhile, China’s ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, together with Beijing’s special envoy Yue Xiaoyong, met Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to discuss the situation, according to Afghanistan’s foreign ministry.
Regional mediation complicated by Middle East tensions
China’s mediation comes at a time when other countries that have previously helped facilitate dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are heavily engaged in diplomatic responses to escalating conflict in the Middle East following military strikes involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Strategic and economic interests
China has significant strategic and economic interests in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Beijing has invested heavily in mining and infrastructure projects in the region, including more than $65 billion in transport and energy developments in Pakistan under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The initiative aims to expand trade routes linking Asia with Europe and Africa through major road, rail, and port projects.
Analysts say stability along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border is crucial for protecting these investments and maintaining regional connectivity.
Unverified claims of casualties
Both Islamabad and Kabul claim to have inflicted heavy losses on opposing forces during the recent clashes, including the deaths of hundreds of troops. However, independent verification of these claims has not been possible.
While tensions remain, the reduction in large-scale fighting suggests that diplomatic efforts particularly those led by China may be helping to prevent the conflict from escalating further.
