- Title: China welcomes Pakistan‑Afghanistan ceasefire, says it will continue mediation
- Date: 19th March 2026
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (MARCH 19, 2026) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON LIN JIAN WALKING INTO CONFERENCE ROOM JOURNALISTS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, LIN JIAN, SAYING: “China welcomes the temporary ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and hopes both sides will remain calm and exercise restraint, resume peace
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: beijing china foreign affairs ministry mofa spokesperson
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- City: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001547919032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: China welcomes Pakistan and Afghanistan’s temporary ceasefire and hope both sides will remain calm, a spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday (March 19).
Pakistan and Afghanistan said they were pausing their military operations against each other on Wednesday (March 18) for the Islamic festival of Eid-al-Fitr, a surprise move two days after a drug rehab center in Kabul was hit in the deadliest strike in months.
“Differences should be properly resolved through dialogue to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the two countries and the wider region,” spokesperson Lin Jian said during a regular news conference.
The conflict had ebbed amid efforts by friendly countries including China to mediate, but flared again with Pakistan directly targeting the Afghan Taliban last month and not just Pakistani Taliban militants Islamabad says are in the country.
(Production: Wang Shubing, Alessandro Diviggiano) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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