ISLAMABAD: The first round of trilateral talks between Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban, and China concluded in Urumqi on Wednesday, aimed at addressing Islamabad’s concerns over terrorist group sanctuaries in Afghanistan, official sources said.
Senior representatives from all three countries attended the meeting, while China hosted and facilitated the dialogue. The Pakistan delegation during the talks is led by Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Asad Gilani.
Similarly, the Taliban regime’s five-member delegation included representatives from the interim regime’s Foreign Ministry, Mohibullah Wasiq and Abdul Hai Qanit. Other members represented the Taliban regime’s interior and defence ministries, as well as the Taliban’s Intelligence Directorate.
During the talks, Pakistan firmly reiterated its demand for the dismantling of terrorist safe havens inside Afghanistan, particularly those of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group.
Islamabad also called for a clear, verifiable, and written mechanism to ensure concrete and sustained action against terrorist groups based in Afghanistan that are involved in terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
Sources said that the Taliban, following internal consultations, responded positively to Pakistan’s concerns, signalling a possible path toward de-escalation and improved cooperation to address Islamabad’s concerns over terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
All three sides agreed to continue the trilateral dialogue process, with China playing a central role in maintaining diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Kabul.
The second round of the talks will take place tomorrow in Urumqi, officials said.
The meeting comes amid strained bilateral relations following Pakistan’s launch of a large-scale counter-terrorism operation Ghazab lil-Haq on February 26, targeting terrorists’ hideouts inside Afghan territory.
Terrorist activity in Pakistan has seen a resurgence since the Afghan Taliban regained control of Kabul in 2021.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that terrorist groups, including the TTP, operate from Afghan soil, while the Taliban administration has been widely criticised for failing to take decisive action against terrorist groups based in Afghanistan.
The counter-terrorism operation Ghazab lil-Haq was initiated after unprovoked cross-border firing by the Taliban.
A temporary pause in the operation was observed from March 18 to 23 during Eid al-Fitr, due to de-escalation efforts led by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Türkiye.
Pakistan’s military leadership has repeatedly stressed that sustainable peace with Afghanistan depends on decisive action against terrorist networks.
Pakistan Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, has previously stated that regional stability will remain out of reach unless the Afghan Taliban sever all ties with terrorist groups.
