China called for calm and restraint on Friday as tensions escalated between Pakistan and the Taliban following cross-border clashes.
“China is closely following the developments of the situation,” Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry, said at a regular news briefing. She described Pakistan and Afghanistan as close neighbors of China and said Beijing was “deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict” and “deeply saddened by the casualties caused by the conflict.”
Mao said China supports efforts to combat “all forms of terrorism” and urged both sides to resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation.
She called for a cease-fire “as soon as possible” to prevent further suffering and said de-escalation would serve the fundamental interests of both countries and help maintain regional stability.
She added that China has been mediating between the two sides through its own channels and stands ready to continue playing what she described as a constructive role in easing tensions and improving relations between the Taliban and Pakistan.
Late Thursday, the Taliban said they had targeted several Pakistani military outposts along the border, claiming that 55 Pakistani forces were killed. Pakistan, in turn, claimed that 133 Taliban members were killed in its overnight airstrikes, while the Taliban said those strikes caused no casualties.
