ISLAMABAD – In a major development in Afghan peace process, China has offered to serve as guarantor for a proposed peace agreement in Afghanistan, an official statement said late on Wednesday.
Hamdullah Mohib, Afghanistan’s national security advisor, received Deng Xijun, China’s special envoy for Afghanistan, in the capital Kabul. Moreover, officials in Afghan capital also confirmed the development.
The offers comes on heels of media reports suggesting that China is likely to host an international meeting regarding Afghan peace process, to be attended by officials from Pakistan, US, Europe and other neighboring countries of Afghanistan would participate to exchange views.
“Ambassador Xijun briefed NSA Mohib about the Chinese efforts in the peace process, and assured China’s readiness to offer as a guarantor role for any possible peace accord between the government and the Taliban group,” Afghanistan’s National Security Council said in a statement released to local media.
China is ready to facilitate Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace talks, ambassador Xijun said, adding that without involvement of the Afghan government, any peace process will go nowhere.
NSA Mohib appreciated Chinese efforts in bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan, saying, the Afghans had rendered huge sacrifices for peace, and those sacrifices should be honored.
The envoy briefed Mohib on China’s recent efforts for peace talks, according to a statement from the national security adviser’s office.
The statement said that Mr Xijun reaffirmed China’s support for the Afghan-led and -owned process and offered China’s proposal as guarantor to any agreement, the statement added.
There have been multiple signs of cautious optimism from the U.S. and NATO about a potential peace deal in Afghanistan this year. In the past two days, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg as well as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have said a comprehensive peace agreement with the Taliban is within the grasps.
The development comes amid reports the U.S. and the Taliban are set to hold the seventh round of talks for peace later this month in Doha, Qatar.
