China to help in Afghan reconciliation

Yi was speaking at a joint press conference in Islamabad with Pakistani National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz. China was seeking a leading role for Islamabad to resolve conflicts in Afghanistan, Yi said, pointing out that "Pakistan is an important nation for Afghanistan" and "has a special reach there."

"Broad-based and inclusive national reconciliation" was necessary to ensure Afghanistan's durable stability, Yi commented, and the country would need international support in the process.

Now that the NATO's combat mission had ended, it was time to help Afghanistan emerge from decades of strife and poverty, Yi said. "The international community needs to give support and encouragement. China is ready to play a constructive role and will provide necessary facilitation any time it is required by various parties in Afghanistan," Yi promised.

China has maintained its distance from the conflict in Afghanistan since September 11, 2001 but is apparently seeking influence in Afghan matters now that the Western forces have ended their combat mission in the country.

Interest has not been lacking on the Afghan side of late. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani visited Beijing in October, soon after assuming office. His visit was rewarded by China promising $327 million (245 million euros, at that point of time) in "free assistance". China received major oil and copper mining concession in the country in exchange.

A Taliban delegation was also in Beijing at the time of Ghani's state visit. Then again, Taliban said last month that they had sent another delegation to Beijing, though the visit was not for purposes of mediation, the English-language website of the "armed insurgents" claimed. Of late, the White House has been describing the Taliban as "armed insurgents" instead of as "terrorists", indicating a possible change in Washington's attitude towards any planned or proposed reconciliation.

ac/jil (dpa, AFP)