China Calls Upon All Parties To Afghan Conflict To Achieve Peace Through Political Dialogue

Faizan Hashmi Published June 19, 2018 | 10:49 PM

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson while welcoming the Afghan government's announcement to extend the ceasefire and offer of talks with Taliban, Tuesday called upon all parties in the Afghanistan conflict to achieve domestic reconciliation and peace through dialogue and political negotiations.

BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Jun, 2018 ) :A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson while welcoming the Afghan government's announcement to extend the ceasefire and offer of talks with Taliban, Tuesday called upon all parties in the Afghanistan conflict to achieve domestic reconciliation and peace through dialogue and political negotiations.

"China appreciates the Afghan government's efforts to promote peace in Afghanistan and welcomes its announcement of an extension of the ceasefire. It calls on all parties in the Afghan conflict to achieve domestic reconciliation and peace through dialogue and political negotiations," Geng Shuang said while responding to a question about Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's announcement for extension of a ceasefire during his regular briefing held here.

The spokesperson said China firmly supported the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process and was willing to work with the international community to continue to play a constructive role in the early realization of peace in Afghanistan.

The Taliban refused to extend their ceasefire dampening hopes for peace after jubilant scenes over the Eid holidays in Afghanistan.

The announcement came after a suicide attack in the restive eastern part of the country on Sunday killed at least 18 persons in a crowd celebrating the Eid holiday, the second assault in as many days to mar the unprecedented cease-fire.

Kabul extended its ceasefire with the Taliban by 10 days but said security forces would defend themselves if attacked, a spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani said.

The Afghan leader also requested the Taliban halt hostilities but they said fighting would resume.