New Delhi: In a major setback to Islamabad’s peace outreach to Kabul, the visas of Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, ISI chief Asim Malik, and two other Pakistani generals have been rejected, said a media report.
Their visa requests have been rejected on three separate occasions over the past three days, TOLO news reported, citing sources.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump immediately seized the opportunity to play peacemaker in the ongoing Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict.
On his way to Israel earlier in the day, Trump offered to mediate between the two sides, saying, “I heard there is now a war between Pakistan and Afghanistan, so I decided to wait until I return. I am also pursuing another case because I am skilled at resolving conflicts and establishing peace, and doing so is an honour for me.”
“I am an expert at resolving wars, I am an expert at establishing peace. Doing so is a matter of honour,” he added.
On the other hand, China has requested both countries to ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions.
China has urged restraint and calm between the two sides, saying, “The two nations are both China’s friends and each other’s neighbours.” “It is in the fundamental and long-term interest of both Pakistan and Afghanistan to seek good-neighbourliness, pursue economic and social prosperity and jointly combat terrorism,” it added.
The Pakistan Army on Sunday admitted that at least 23 of its soldiers and over 200 Taliban and affiliated terrorists were killed in intense overnight clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border as tensions escalated between the two neighbours.
On the other hand, the Taliban government’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and around 30 others wounded in the attacks.
China maintains close ties with Pakistan and Afghanistan through a tripartite mechanism, conducting periodic meetings to iron out differences over Islamabad’s repeated allegations against Kabul of hosting Pakistan’s militant groups, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
