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China Offers to Mediate as Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Tensions Escalate
China has offered to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan to ease border tensions, urging both sides to return to dialogue as security operations and cross-border incidents continue.
ND
by News Desk
2026-03-16
China Offers to Mediate as Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Tensions Escalate

China on Monday reiterated its willingness to help reduce rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, calling on both countries to return to dialogue amid ongoing cross-border hostilities.

Speaking at a press briefing, Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, said the immediate priority should be to prevent further escalation.

“The most urgent task is to avoid the expansion of the war and return the two countries to the negotiating table as soon as possible,” Lin said, adding that Beijing was ready to continue its efforts to promote reconciliation between Islamabad and Kabul.

His remarks came shortly after Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, held a phone call with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of Afghanistan’s Taliban administration. During the conversation, Wang stressed that disputes between the two neighbours should be resolved through dialogue and consultation rather than the use of force.

Rising Security Concerns

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly accused militant groups, particularly the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), of using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan.

Pakistani officials say they have repeatedly urged the Taliban authorities to dismantle militant sanctuaries, but those concerns have largely remained unaddressed.

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq Continues

Tensions further escalated after Pakistan’s security forces launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on the night of February 26, following what the government described as unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban forces across the border.

Security sources said Pakistani forces operating in Kurram District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa targeted and destroyed several hideouts belonging to Afghan Taliban fighters and militants referred to by the state as Fitna al-Khawarij, a term used for the banned TTP.

“Several militants were killed during the operations, while others managed to flee,” a security source said.

Pakistani forces also destroyed Afghan Taliban posts across the border in the Bajaur District using guided missiles, security officials added, vowing that the military operation would continue until its objectives were achieved.

On Sunday, security sources reported that Pakistani forces carried out overnight strikes in Kandahar Province, targeting what they described as technical support infrastructure and equipment storage facilities used by militants.

Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan’s information minister, confirmed the operation, stating that a tunnel allegedly used by militants was also destroyed.

Later the same day, Tarar said that four civilians were killed and a child was injured after Afghan Taliban forces allegedly targeted civilian areas through artillery and mortar fire across the border in Bajaur district.

Violence in Bannu

Separately, violence continued in Bannu District, where at least two individuals were abducted and killed in suspected militant-related incidents.

In one case, armed men abducted a prominent local figure, Malik Nabiullah, from Domel Tehsil along with three others who were later released. Nabiullah was taken to an unknown location, shot dead, and his body was later recovered.

In another incident near Tochi Bridge in the Bakakhel area, unknown armed men abducted a young man identified as Shazeb Khan, who was later found dead along the roadside.

Authorities said investigations were underway into both incidents.

Meanwhile, police foiled a suspected militant attack on the Fatah Khel Police Post in Bannu after officers detected suspicious movement through thermal cameras and opened fire, forcing the militants to flee.

Officials said the swift response by security personnel prevented what could have been a major attack.

Bannu has witnessed repeated security incidents in recent months, prompting intensified operations against militant networks in the region.
Tagged:

Pakistan

Afghanistan

BorderTensions

ChinaDiplomacy
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