KABUL - China on Thursday offered to mediate between bickering South Asian neighbours Afghanistan and Pakistan for the sake of stability in the region.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made the offer at a meeting with his Afghan counterpart Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai during a meeting in Beijing, according to the Presidential Palace in Kabul.

On his first international trip, Ahmadzai won concrete aid pledges at talks with his Chinese counterpart. China agreed to provide $81.8 million in grant assistance to the Afghan government for 2014 and a further 1.5 billion yuan in the next three years from 2015-2017.

Xi urged regional countries to extend a helping hand to Afghanistan in the interest of peace and security. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) also pushed for the goal, he observed.

With regard to the importance of Kabul-Islamabad ties, the host leader expressed his willingness to help bring the neighbours closer and remove mistrust between them.

Kabul often blames Islamabad for aiding the militants and refusing to cooperate with efforts at bringing Taliban leaders to the negotiating table with Afghan officials. But Pakistan denies the charge.

China has traditionally enjoyed cordial relations Pakistan, which is believed to holds sway over Taliban leaders. Some of the top insurgent figures, allegedly hiding in that country, are said to be following Pakistan’s instructions. (Pajhwok)