Daily Times

In an unprecedented move, the Chinese government has proposed to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan in a bid to defuse escalating tensions between the two countries.

During his visit to Islamabad and Kabul last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi underlined the need to improve bilateral ties — an essential prerequisite for developing a coordinated counter-terrorism strategy between Pakistan and Afghanistan and to bringing peace to the region.

This follows from the informal discussions held between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Kazakhstan.

Speaking to the press in Islamabad, the Chinese Foreign Minister added that Afghanistan, Pakistan and China will revive discussions through the Quadrilateral Coordination Group comprising Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States and China to create a conducive environment for talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Formed in January of last year, the Quadrilateral Coordination Group was set up with the objective of achieving peace in Afghanistan.

These steps highlight China’s emerging role as a broker for peace and stability in a region riven by intractable conflicts. Earlier this year, China offered to help in resolving a diplomatic row between Bangladesh and Myanmar. Additionally, China has expressed an interest in acting as a mediator between Pakistan and India over the longstanding Kashmir dispute.

Notably, China also has expressed interest in quelling conflagrations beyond its immediate sphere of influence. For instance, in March this year, China offered to host talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

With both countries convulsed by terrorist violence, the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan remains fraught with challenges. Deteriorating relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan struck a new low when Pakistan closed the 2,600 km Pak-Afghan border in February this year after an attack on the sacred Sehwan Sharif shrine in Sindh which killed over a hundred people.

This deadly attack came after a series of assaults by militants, many of which are believed to have emanated from militant bases in Afghanistan.

Though the border was recently reopened, this temporary closure adversely impacted diplomatic relations and resulted in sharp economic losses for both countries.

Afghanistan too has been the victim of militant assaults: in May, Kabul was rocked by a suicide attack which killed over 65 people. Demonstrations in the wake of this attack added pressure to the country’s fragile political order.

As relations between the countries continue to worsen, the resolve to craft a political solution takes on greater urgency. Last week, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Dr Maleeha Lodhi articulated concern over Taliban “safe havens” within Afghanistan.

As China’s expanding role in international diplomacy proves regional economic integration not only results in greater prosperity and social development — but can also help engender peace

During a tense debate with her Afghan counterpart, she informed the Security Council that continued reliance on military operations without an accompanying political strategy would unleash further violence.

At this critical time, China is well-placed to act as a stabilising force in a region plagued by volatility. China remains heavily invested in both countries: in Pakistan its diverse investments range from large scale construction projects to telecommunications.  In Afghanistan, China has brought in unparalleled foreign investment with a 30-year license to develop the Mes Aynak copper mine for over $3billion.

China has also initiated key infrastructure projects in both countries: China’s development of and 40-year lease over Pakistan’s Gwadar port represents a vital gateway to the Arabian Sea, which can provide China and Central Asia access to the Persian Gulf and Middle Eastern markets.

China’s development of Afghanistan’s railway network, linking the two countries via Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is also set to have a transformative impact on trade in the region.

These projects form part of China’s ambitious One Belt One Road Initiative which aims to create trade networks across Asia, linking the continent to African and European markets.

As China’s expanding role in international diplomacy proves, regional economic integration not only results in greater prosperity and social development but can also help engender peace.

At the Security Council last week, Ambassador Lodhi held out hope for a resolution between Pakistan and Afghanistan claiming, “We are confident that, whatever our differences in the past, in the end, the deep bonds of religion, culture, history and geography between Pakistan and Afghanistan will assert themselves and produce an era of peaceful and mutually beneficial cooperation between our nations.”  A trusted partner of both countries, China could act as the catalyst in making this a reality.

The writer is the founding editor of Blue Chip magazine. She tweets @MashaalGauhar

Published in Daily Times, June 30th, 2017.