China calls on int’l community to play 'constructive role' for peace in Afghanistan

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – A day after at least six people, including two Russian Embassy workers, were killed in the Kabul blast, China on Tuesday called on the international community to play its “constructive role” for peace in Afghanistan.

“China strongly condemns the terrorist attacks on diplomatic organizations and personnel,” Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told a news conference in Beijing.

She said Beijing hopes that the “institutions in Afghanistan will take effective measures to ensure the safety of foreign diplomatic organizations and personnel.”

“The international community should jointly play a constructive role in maintaining peace, stability, and security in Afghanistan,” Mao said.

At least six people, including two employees of the Russian Embassy, were killed after a blast hit Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Monday.

Afghan interim Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi held a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on late Monday, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi.

After conveying condolences to his Russian counterpart on the death of two Russian Embassy staffers, Muttaqi assured Lavrov of a “comprehensive investigation.”

“The two sides should not allow such negative actions by the enemy to negatively impact the close and positive relations between the two countries,” Muttaqi told Lavrov.

“The Russian foreign minister called this attack the work of international criminal syndicates, emphasizing the need to fight against them,” Qahar said.