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ISLAMABAD �

China has brokered a deal between Pakistan and Afghanistan for the establishment of a bilateral crisis management mechanism to avoid any breakdown in mutual communications and contacts in the event of terrorist attacks on both sides of their long shared border.

The three countries have also agreed to set up a trilateral foreign minister-level dialogue forum that would allow Beijing to observe progress toward normalizing Kabul's deeply mistrust-marred security ties with Islamabad and promoting economic cooperation

The developments were announced Sunday at the conclusion of a two-day mediation trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan by China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Beijing's diplomatic efforts came as relations between the two uneasy neighbors have deteriorated in the past two years over mutual allegations of sponsoring terrorist attacks on each other's soil.

The crisis management mechanism would enable the two sides to maintain timely and effective communications in the event of any emergencies, including terrorist attacks, allowing the two sides to resolve them through dialogue and consultation, said a joint statement Wang released at a news conference with Pakistani foreign policy adviser, Sartaj Aziz.

The Chinese foreign minister told reporters he conducted the shuttle diplomacy to do what China can to help improve relations between the two countries and to help facilitate the reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

Wang described the establishment of crisis management mechanism as an important step toward improving the relationship.

"While going forward, the key is for Pakistan and Afghanistan to have detailed consultations on how this mechanism would function and to reach early agreements on the operability of this mechanism. Pakistan and Afghanistan have in doing so sent a positive signal to the international community and China welcomes that, Wang said.

The three parties had in-depth exchange of views, he explained, and they also agreed to establish the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' dialogue mechanism to cooperate on issues of mutual interest, beginning with economic cooperation.

The Chinese foreign minister, on behalf of the three countries, also called call on the Taliban to join the Afghan reconciliation process.

There was no immediate reaction from the Islamist insurgent group, which has repeatedly turned down peace talks with the Afghan government as long as the U.S.-led foreign forces are present in Afghanistan.

If there is no progress in the reconciliation process in Afghanistan it will mean greater difficulty in the reconstruction process. So, it is important to advance the reconciliation processIt is also something that all the parties, including China and Pakistan, would like to see further progress, noted Wang.

The Chinese foreign minister undertook the mediation effort at a time when the Untied States is reportedly planning to intensify its Afghan military campaign by sending fresh troops to the country.

President Donald Trump's administration is also expected to increase pressure on Islamabad to prevent Taliban insurgents and their ally, the dreaded Haqqani network, from using Pakistani soil for deadly attacks in Afghanistan.

Pakistani leaders strongly dismiss U.S. and Afghan criticism of their counterterrorism efforts, saying the country has made monumental sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

China's Foreign Minister Wang on Sunday reiterated Beijing's traditional support for Pakistan's stance.

The international community should fully acknowledge and appreciate the efforts made by Pakistan in this regard. Any notion that Pakistan is not firm in counterterrorism is not fair and is not consistent with the fact, Wang asserted.

China considers stability in Afghanistan vital to its national security and economic interests. It is worried that continued Afghan insecurity could threaten security of its western Xinjiang province, which shares border with the war-hit nation.

Beijing is investing billions of dollars in Pakistan, China's staunch ally, to establish a trade route to gain access to international markets through the Pakistani port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea.

Afghan leaders allege sanctuaries and safe havens on Pakistani soil have enabled the Taliban to intensify insurgent attacks and prolong the Afghan war.

Islamabad denies the charges and in turn blames sanctuaries in border areas of Afghanistan for plotting terrorist attacks against Pakistan, including Friday's deadly suicide bombings in two cities that killed more than 80 people and injured more than 200 others.

The U.S. Department of Defense in its latest report last week alleged that Taliban and Haqqani terrorists continue to use sanctuaries on Pakistani soil for staging attacks in Afghanistan.

Source: Voice of America

WASHINGTON �

The Trump administration has authorized the sale of unarmed surveillance drones to India, the manufacturer said Friday, as the two nations' leaders prepare for their first face-to-face meeting.

India initiated its request to buy 22 Guardian MQ-9B unmanned aircraft for maritime surveillance last year. The deal is estimated to be worth about $2 billion. The offer is still subject to congressional approval.

Modi visits this week

The green light from the administration marks a further deepening in defense ties as India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.

Modi's two-day visit to Washington, which starts Sunday, takes place amid uncertainty over the relationship because of differences on trade and other issues.

So far in his presidency, Trump has focused on outreach to China, India's strategic rival, as he looks to Beijing to rein in North Korea. But Washington and New Delhi share concerns about China's rise as a military power.

India reportedly wants the drones for surveillance of the Indian Ocean, waters that China's navy increasingly traverses after establishing its first overseas base in the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti. India's archrival Pakistan would also likely be opposed to the drone sale.

We are pleased that the U.S. government has cleared the way for the sale of the MQ-9B Guardian to the Indian government, Linden Blue, CEO of the manufacturer, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, said in a statement. Blue added that it would significantly enhance India's sovereign maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific.

Military sales date to 2008

Since 2008, India has signed more than $15 billion in U.S. defense contracts, including for C-130J and C-17 transport aircraft, P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, Harpoon missiles and Apache and Chinook helicopters.

Ashley Tellis, an expert on South Asia at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said the U.S. decision to offer the Guardian aircraft to India is significant as the U.S. has a standing policy of declining export of such advanced drones other than to allies involved in combined operations with U.S. forces.

There could still be pushback from Congress. While there is bipartisan support for closer U.S.-India security ties, some lawmakers remain wary of the export of U.S. drone technology to non-allies.

Source: Voice of America

WASHINGTON �

The U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan has stepped down.

Laurel Miller left the office Friday without a replacement being named.

The departure of the special envoy comes at the same time the U.S. is preparing to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan in its continued fight against the Taliban insurgency.

Politico, the news website, reported Friday that diplomats thought the special envoy's office was closing Friday, with its responsibilities being folded into the State Department's South and Central Asian Affairs Bureau.

Later Friday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement that he had not yet made a decision about the future of the office. Tillerson has indicated he plans to reduce the number of special envoys in the State Department, which is facing potential budget cuts of up to 30 percent.

Source: Voice of America