Overview
Chinese diplomatic intervention, including a message sent from President Xi Jinping, has helped calm what Pakistani government officials described as the most severe fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Three Pakistani officials said that the message was delivered during a meeting late last month between China\'s ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, and Pakistan\'s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif.
On-the-ground situation
In recent days neither side has reported additional Pakistani air strikes on Afghanistan, and ground fighting along the 2,600-km (1,600-mile) border has eased compared with earlier rounds of intense exchanges. That said, reports of daily clashes continue to emerge from both sides, indicating that while the intensity has dropped it has not ended.
Positions from Islamabad and Kabul
Pakistani security officials maintain that their military campaign will persist until its objectives are met - specifically, to prevent militant attacks in Pakistan that they say originate from Afghan territory. Islamabad initiated air strikes on Afghanistan on February 26, saying the Taliban were providing a safe haven to militants carrying out attacks in Pakistan. Afghanistan has rejected that allegation, framing militancy in Pakistan as an internal matter.
Both Afghanistan and Pakistan have issued statements claiming they inflicted heavy damage on the other side and killed hundreds of opposing troops, but neither side has provided evidence to substantiate those assertions. Independent verification of those battlefield claims has not been possible.
China's role and statements
China has said it is actively engaged with both capitals to work toward ending hostilities. The Chinese foreign ministry said in an e-mail that "China\'s Special Envoy for Afghanistan Affairs is currently shuttling between the two countries to mediate, while Chinese embassies in both nations maintain close communication with the respective parties." The ministry emphasized that "the most urgent task is to prevent the fighting from expanding and for the two countries to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible."
The ministry also reported that Foreign Minister Wang Yi held telephone talks with Pakistan\'s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss the conflict. Separately, China\'s ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, and Special Envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghanistan\'s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, this week, according to a statement from the Afghan foreign ministry.
Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesman for Prime Minister Sharif who has previously said there would not be talks with the Taliban, did not respond to queries about Beijing\'s mediation. Pakistan\'s foreign ministry and military also did not respond to requests for comment.
Regional context
China\'s mediation efforts emerged at a moment when Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey - which hosted talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan during earlier clashes in October - have been preoccupied by the wider conflict in the Middle East following strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, according to the statements included in official summaries.
Economic ties
Beijing, described as a longstanding ally of Pakistan, has substantial investments across both countries in sectors including mining and minerals. In Pakistan those commitments include more than $65 billion in road, rail and other development projects, counted as part of China\'s Belt and Road Initiative to expand land and sea trade routes to Europe and Africa.
Outlook
Chinese officials present the immediate priority as halting the escalation and bringing the two governments back to negotiations. For now, the combination of shuttle diplomacy by Chinese envoys, senior-level calls, and a relayed presidential message appear to have coincided with a measurable reduction in the intensity of fighting, even as daily clashes and unverified claims of heavy losses continue.