BEIJING: China on Monday strongly condemned the kidnapping and assault of the daughter of Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan Najibullah Alikhil by unknown individuals in Islamabad and hoped that the perpetrators might be delivered to justice.
Silsila Alikhil, the 26-year-old daughter of Afghanistan’s ambassador, was kidnapped by unknown individuals whereas using a rented car in Islamabad on Friday. She was tortured and assaulted by her kidnappers earlier than being launched a number of hours later, triggering a diplomatic disaster between the 2 neighbouring nations.
Following the incident, Afghanistan has recalled its diplomats from Pakistan. Islamabad additionally referred to as again its ambassador to Kabul for “consultations”. “As for the daughter of the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan being kidnapped, we strongly condemn the act. China hopes that the sufferer can get better very quickly and we hope that the perpetrators might be delivered to justice,” Chinese language International Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian mentioned at a media briefing right here.
He additionally expressed hope that each Afghanistan and Pakistan can step up communication and create beneficial situations for a detailed cooperation to reopen the border between the 2 nations after Taliban claimed to have taken management of it amid studies of Islamabad’s tacit navy help.
The rising variations between Pakistan and Afghanistan authorities is inflicting anxiousness in Beijing as it’s making an attempt to work out reconciliation between the 2 nations, amid Taliban’s advances after the US introduced that its troops would withdraw earlier than August 31.
Pakistan and Afghanistan typically commerce accusations, with Kabul claiming Islamabad is sending hundreds of militants to battle within the war-torn nation and offering secure haven for the Taliban. Pakistan, in flip, claims that Afghanistan harbours the anti-Pakistani group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan – the Pakistani Taliban – and in addition the secessionist Balochistan Liberation Military.
Chinese language International Minister Wang Yi just lately requested the Afghan Taliban to make a “clear break” with all terrorist forces, particularly the al-Qaeda backed Uyghur Muslim militant group East Turkistan Islamic Motion (ETIM) preventing for the independence of China’s risky Xinjiang province.
Wang additionally praised the Afghanistan authorities, saying it has executed good work for nationwide unity, social stability and enchancment of individuals’s livelihood, which needs to be justly evaluated. In his briefing on Monday, Zhao sought to make a distinction between the Pakistan Taliban and the Afghan Taliban.
He mentioned each the organisations are completely different. “The Pakistani Taliban is a terrorist and is extensively recognised (as such) by the Pakistani authorities and the worldwide neighborhood. It has admitted to having been concerned in quite a lot of terrorist assaults, together with the explosion on the Quetta resort,” he mentioned.
“The Afghan Taliban determine themselves as a political and navy organisation and have brazenly declared that they won’t permit any organisation or particular person to make use of Afghan territory to threaten different nations. This 12 months, it has maintained dialogue and speak to with the Afghan authorities and the worldwide neighborhood,” he mentioned.
Requested whether or not China suspect the Pakistan Taliban behind the July 14 blast wherein 13 individuals, together with 9 Chinese language engineers, have been killed in Dasu space of Higher Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province the place a Chinese language firm is constructing a 4320-mw dam on the Indus river, he mentioned investigation remains to be below progress.
About International Minister Wang’s name for the Taliban to sever ties with terrorist teams, he mentioned the Minister’s assertion “made China’s place clear”. “Terrorism is the general public enemy of all mankind, and China is prepared to strengthen anti-terrorism efforts of the worldwide neighborhood in order to take care of world peace and tranquility,” he mentioned.
