China reaffirms support for Pakistan's Afghan policy

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan

China on Monday reaffirmed its “continuing and firm” support for Pakistan’s efforts to achieve peace and stability in neighboring Afghanistan -- a move seen as a rejection of U.S President Donald Trump’s recent allegations that Islamabad is harboring terrorists.

Chinese special envoy on Afghanistan Deng Xijun, who called on Pakistan’s foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua in the capital Islamabad, emphasized there was no military solution to the conflict, according to a statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry.

He underlined the need for a politically negotiated settlement through an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process.

Xijun was the first senior Chinese official to visit Islamabad after the announcement of Trump’s new policy for South Asia last week, which saw the U.S. refusing to commit to a timetable to end its military presence in Afghanistan, and accusing Pakistan of harboring terrorists on its soil.

Islamabad has already rejected the allegations, saying the U.S is scapegoating Pakistan for its own failures in Afghanistan, something which will not help stabilize the war-torn country.

“Ambassador Deng Xijun has reaffirmed China’s continuing and firm support to Pakistan’s commitment and efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan,” the statement read, adding that the Chinese special envoy lauded Pakistan’s contribution and sacrifices made in the fight against terrorism.

“Pakistan’s efforts towards eliminating the scourge of terrorism should be fully recognized by the international community,” Xijun said, in a thinly-veiled reference to Trump’s allegations.