Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that issues between Afghanistan and Pakistan can only be resolved through dialogue and consultation.

Wang told his Afghan counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in a phone call that the ⁠dispute with Pakistan should not be resolved through force.

Wang urged both sides to remain calm and ⁠exercise restraint, hold face-to-face talks as ⁠soon as possible, ⁠seek an immediate ceasefire and address differences through dialogue, according ⁠to a Foreign Ministry statement published on Friday.

The ‌further use of force would only complicate the ‌situation and intensify tensions, Wang said.

The ministry's statement ⁠came after Pakistan on Friday bombed the fuel depot of private airline Kam Air near Afghanistan's ‌Kandahar airport, stepping up the neighbours' worst conflict in years.

Wang and Muttaqi also ⁠exchanged ‌views on the situation ‌in Iran, the statement said.

Wang told Muttaqi, according to ‌the statement, that Beijing is willing to work with the international community, including Afghanistan, to ⁠bring peace to Iran. (Xinhua & Reuters)



Edited by Thomas McAlinden