By The South Asia Times

BEIJING  - China has stepped into the growing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi holding a telephone conversation with Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Friday and confirming that Beijing's special envoy is shuttling between the two neighbors to broker a ceasefire.

The diplomatic intervention comes as cross-border hostilities between Islamabad and Kabul enter their third week, with both sides reporting significant military casualties and Pakistan's Operation Ghazab lil Haq continuing to target what it describes as militant infrastructure inside Afghanistan.

Muttaqi initiated the call, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement, and expressed gratitude to China for its active efforts in mediating the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"The Afghan people have suffered deeply from war and cherish opportunities for peace and development," Muttaqi told Wang Yi. He stressed that Afghanistan is committed to being a source of regional peace rather than instability, reaffirming that "Afghan territory will not be used to launch attacks against neighboring countries."

The Afghan foreign minister emphasized that Afghanistan does not seek armed conflict with other nations and looks forward to mutual trust and friendly coexistence among neighboring countries.

"Dialogue and consultation are the only viable path to resolving issues," Muttaqi said, expressing hope that China, as a major country and friendly neighbor, would play a greater role in this regard.

Wang Yi responded by urging both sides to exercise restraint and pursue dialogue, warning that military escalation serves no one's interests.

"The more turbulent the external environment becomes, the more important it is for regional countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation to overcome difficulties together and forge a path toward cooperative security and common security," Wang stated.

He described Afghanistan and Pakistan as "inseparable brothers and neighbors who cannot move away from each other," adding that "any issues arising between them can only be resolved through dialogue and consultation."

In a clear reference to ongoing Pakistani military operations, Wang warned that "the use of force will only complicate the situation, intensify contradictions, harm both sides, and threaten regional peace and stability."

Wang revealed that the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Special Envoy for Afghan Affairs is currently traveling between the two countries to mediate. He urged both sides to "remain calm and restrained, hold face-to-face talks as soon as possible, achieve an early ceasefire, and resolve differences through dialogue."

"China stands ready to continue making positive efforts to promote reconciliation and ease tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan," he added.

The two sides also exchanged views on the broader regional crisis: the US-Israeli war on Iran. Wang reiterated China's principled position, stating that Beijing is willing to work with the international community, including Afghanistan, to "continue playing a constructive role in striving for peace."

The diplomatic push comes against the backdrop of escalating hostilities along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Since late February, Pakistan has conducted multiple airstrikes inside Afghanistan targeting what it describes as militant hideouts, while the Afghan Taliban has launched cross-border attacks on Pakistani military posts.

Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has released regular updates on Operation Ghazab lil Haq, claiming hundreds of Afghan Taliban fighters killed and scores of military installations destroyed. 

Friday's failed drone attack on Kohat, which Pakistan swiftly debunked, highlighted the ongoing tensions and the propaganda war accompanying them.

China's mediation effort reflects its deepening stake in regional stability. Beijing has invested heavily in Pakistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and views Afghanistan's stability as crucial to its broader regional ambitions. Instability along Pakistan's western border threatens Chinese interests and complicates Beijing's relations with both Islamabad and Kabul.

Wang's reference to Afghanistan and Pakistan as "brothers" who must resolve their differences through dialogue underscores China's preference for diplomatic solutions that protect its investments and prevent further regional conflagration.