ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan are holding trilateral talks with China in Urumqi, aimed at easing months of heightened tensions, supporting Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, and sustaining diplomatic engagement, Pakistani officials said on Wednesday.
The meeting in the northwestern Chinese city follows Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s recent visit to Beijing, where he held discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as part of ongoing regional consultations.
Officials said the engagement is part of an established Pakistan–Afghanistan–China trilateral mechanism, with Beijing continuing to play a facilitating role in maintaining dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul.
“The meeting is taking place at the request of our Chinese friends as part of routine trilateral consultations,” a senior Pakistani security official said, confirming that a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is holding talks with representatives of the Afghan Taliban.
Another senior government official described the talks as a step towards keeping communication channels open and laying the groundwork for broader, structured dialogue, particularly on security-related concerns.
Since the takeover of Kabul by the Afghan Taliban in August 2021, Pakistan has seen a marked rise in militant attacks originating from Afghan soil, particularly involving the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Analysts say the group’s activity surged between 2021 and 2024, describing it as a “resurgence” following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan.
The escalation has included frequent cross-border infiltrations, attacks on Pakistani security forces, and the use of Afghan territory as a safe haven, raising serious national security concerns in Islamabad.
Islamabad’s primary demand — verifiable action against anti-Pakistan terrorists operating from Afghan soil — remains unmet, with Pakistan reiterating that it will continue its decisive military operations if cross-border attacks persist.
Pakistan has carried out air strikes inside Afghanistan on what it said were targets linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, destroying militant hideouts.
Pakistan has maintained that it is targeting terrorist groups responsible for cross-border attacks.
Officials said Islamabad’s demands remain unchanged, calling on Afghanistan to take verifiable action against militants and ensure its territory is not used to launch attacks against Pakistan.
Officials underscored that addressing these security concerns remains central to the ongoing trilateral engagement, even as all sides seek to reduce tensions and avoid further escalation.
