ISLAMABAD: Afghan president’s spokesperson said on Saturday Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told President Ashraf Ghani and his close aides that he would urge Pakistan to “control the Taliban and the Haqqani Network so they do not launch attacks on civilians”. Wang arrived in Islamabad on Saturday after holding meetings in Kabul with President Ghani, Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani and National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar. In Islamabad the Chinese foreign minister held talks with Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz shortly after Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif received him at the Noor Khan Airbase. “Pakistan has influence on the Taliban and would ask the country to use its influence on the Taliban,” a statement from Ghani’s office quoted the Chinese FM as saying in a meeting at the Presidential Palace. “Pakistan has showed willingness in this regard and we would call for practical steps,” Wang said. The Chinese Embassy in Kabul did not issue any statement on the visit and details issued by the Chinese state Xinhua news agency did not mention remarks attributed to Wang by Ghani’s office. The Chinese minister welcomed the understanding reached between Ghani and Nawaz Sharif in Astana for the improvement of relations and to fight against terrorism. “We are ready to help in improvement relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” Wang said, adding that the summit between Ghani and Nawaz and their agreement will lay foundation for cordial relations between the two countries and to fight terrorism. He said good relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are in the interest of both the countries. Referring to the permanent membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation granted to Pakistan and India, he said the group would discuss permanent membership to Afghanistan in the next meetings. Afghanistan currently has observer status. Wang said he does not want to impose his own conditions on Pakistan and Afghanistan and that friendship with the regional countries is important for China. The Chinese FM sought Afghanistan’s help in taking action against the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) as it is a serious threat for China. He announced support for the Kabul Process that was launched this month with an international conference attended by nearly 25 countries. “China supports intra-Afghan dialogue and described peace for the development of the country,” he said and supported Kabul’s policy to mount pressure on terrorists and has kept the option of peace talks open for the armed groups. He also supported the revival of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US for peace and security in Afghanistan. Ghani said his county wanted good relations with Pakistan and other neighbours and regional countries. He said Afghanistan has taken steps against the ETIM and China should help Afghanistan to stop the arrival of this and other groups to Afghanistan. He said ETIM and other terrorist groups supported each other and action should be taken against all groups. “Terrorist groups have offices and hideouts in Pakistan and they are supported and their injured are treated there. Pakistan should take serious action against them as it has promised,” the statement quoted Ghani as saying in the meeting. “Pakistan can stop their offices and movement. Relations with Pakistan could be improved if action is taken against the terrorist groups,” the Afghan leader said further. Meanwhile Xinhua quoted Wang as saying that the Chinese side sincerely hopes that the two countries can improve bilateral relations, rebuild mutual trust and strengthen cooperation so as to achieve common security and development. As a common friend for both Afghanistan and Pakistan, China encourages the two nations to establish crisis prevention and control mechanisms in a timely manner and properly deal with various kinds of emergencies, Wang said. He added that China supports the setting up of a trilateral meeting mechanism among foreign ministers of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan, to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in all fields. Published in Daily Times, June 25th, 2017.