China and Pakistan called for “visible and verifiable” action to dismantle and eliminate “terrorist organisations” based in Afghanistan, saying they pose serious threats to regional and global security, according to a joint statement issued after high-level talks.
The statement was released at the end of the seventh round of the China-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
“The two sides called for more visible and verifiable actions to dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organisations based in Afghanistan,” the statement said, adding that such groups must be prevented from using Afghan territory to carry out terrorism against any other country or to endanger regional and global security.
China and Pakistan said they would keep close communication and coordination on Afghanistan and work with the international community to encourage the Taliban authorities to build an inclusive political framework, adopt moderate policies, focus on development, pursue good neighbourly relations and play a constructive role in helping Afghanistan achieve stable development and integrate into the international community.
The two sides also expressed readiness to continue leveraging the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue and broader regional cooperation mechanisms, the statement said.
The Taliban have previously denied the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and said Afghan soil would not be used against any country.
Pakistani officials, including the prime minister, have accused the Taliban of supporting the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, and allowing the group to operate safe havens in Afghanistan — claims the Taliban have rejected. However, a UN monitoring group has reported that TTP has around 6,000 fighters in Afghanistan.
