Pak, China vow to take Afghan peace process forward

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday said that Pakistan greatly valued its friendly relations with “iron brother” China, according to a statement of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The military’s media wing said that General Qamar expressed these sentiments during a meeting with the Ambassador of China to Pakistan, Nong Rong.

During the meeting, the statement read, matters of mutual interest, progress on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and regional security situation including the latest developments in the Afghan peace process were discussed.

The COAS thanked the dignitary for China’s contribution towards the fight against Covid-19 and the provision of vaccines to Pakistan and said that Pakistan greatly values its friendly relations with its “iron brother” China, the official communiqué said.

General Qamar also felicitated the dignitary for holding grand ceremony in Beijing on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Pak-China diplomatic relations.

The visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan’s sincere efforts for bringing peace and stability in the region, especially the Afghan peace process, the statement further said.

Last month, the army chief met with US Charge d’ Affairs Angela Aggeler and hoped for “greater cooperation” between Pakistan and the US in all domains.

The meeting was a part of ongoing efforts by the US to seek a political end to the Afghan conflict.

The army chief said Pakistan had sincerely supported the peace process and a prosperous, stable and peaceful Afghanistan was in the best interest of region in general and Pakistan in particular.

The US dignitary acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan’s continuous efforts and support for peace and stability in the region and pledged to further enhance bilateral relations between both countries.

General Qamar, earlier, had also assured the Afghan leadership of Pakistan’s support for “inclusive power-sharing arrangement” and “elections as a right of Afghans to self-determination” during a daylong visit to Kabul last month.

In the meeting with President Ghani, the army chief reiterated that a peaceful Afghanistan means a peaceful region in general and a peaceful Pakistan in particular.

“We will always support Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process based on mutual consensus of all stakeholders,” the military’s media wing said in a statement.

The Afghan president thanked the army chief for a “meaningful discussion and appreciated Pakistan’s sincere and positive role in the Afghan peace process”.

The army chief also met Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan and discussed matters related to Afghan peace process.

“Gen Bajwa assured that Pakistan supports an inclusive power-sharing arrangement & elections as a right of Afghans to self-determination,” Abdullah said in a series of tweets while welcoming the army chief.

The discussion, he said, focused on the current state of the Afghan peace process and on ways to build and accelerate momentum toward reduction in violence leading to a permanent ceasefire and continued inter-Afghan talks.