China Pushes for Immediate Ceasefire Between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Beijing / Islamabad —
China has intensified diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing armed conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, calling on both nations to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a phone call with Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, urged both sides to remain calm, hold face-to-face talks as soon as possible, and seek an immediate ceasefire, stressing that further use of force would only complicate the situation and escalate tensions. 
China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan Affairs, Yue Xiaoyong, is currently conducting shuttle diplomacy between the two countries, while Chinese embassies in both Islamabad and Kabul maintain close communication with respective parties. The Chinese foreign ministry stated that the most urgent task is to prevent the conflict from expanding and to bring both countries back to the negotiating table. 
Chinese mediation efforts, which include a personal message from President Xi Jinping conveyed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif through Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, have helped ease what has been described as the worst fighting between the two neighbors since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. 
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning noted that the current intensity of clashes has exceeded previous levels, warning that any prolongation or escalation would inflict severe harm on both sides. China expressed deep sadness over the casualties and reaffirmed its readiness to continue playing a constructive role in de-escalation. 
The diplomatic push comes as traditional mediators Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey remain preoccupied with the ongoing Middle East conflict, effectively leaving China as the key regional broker in this crisis.