FILE – Residents and rescue employees examine the positioning of an airstrike at a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 17, 2026.
Siddiqullah Alizai/AP
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Siddiqullah Alizai/AP
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan on Thursday confirmed it was holding peace talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities in China, the place Beijing is making an attempt to dealer an enduring ceasefire after weeks of combating which have killed tons of, disrupting commerce and cross-border journey.
The affirmation of the brand new spherical of talks got here a day after officers from the 2 sides advised The Related Press that representatives from the nations had traveled to Urumqi in western China for them.
It was unclear who’s representing Pakistan within the talks. Afghanistan’s International Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi stated in a submit on X that “a mid-level delegation” from his nation had traveled to Urumqi for the negotiations following a request from China.
Balkhi stated Afghanistan believes diplomatic engagement grounded in mutual respect and non-interference will help produce “practical and lasting solutions” to bilateral points.
In Islamabad, Pakistan’s International Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi advised a information briefing that the talks are ongoing. “Yes, Pakistan has sent a delegation to Urumqi, in line with its consistent position and longstanding practice of supporting a credible process that can help find a durable solution to cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan,” he stated.
Pakistan says success of talks lies with Afghanistan
Andrabi stated success of the talks largely is dependent upon Kabul.
“The burden of a real process lies with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate visible and verifiable action against terrorist groups using Afghan soil against Pakistan,” he stated.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in assaults lately, many claimed by the Pakistani Taliban. A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden automobile right into a police station within the Bannu district of northwestern Pakistan late Thursday, killing no less than 5 folks and wounding a number of others, native police chief Rafi Ullah stated.
Pakistan typically accuses Afghanistan of offering a secure haven to militants who perform assaults inside Pakistan, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, often known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. The group is separate from however allied with the Afghan Taliban, which took over Afghanistan in 2021 following the chaotic withdrawal of U.S.-led troops. Kabul denies the cost.
The combating between the 2 sides has been the deadliest since February, when Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities stated Pakistan launched strikes in Kabul and several other different areas, inflicting principally civilian casualties. Pakistan has stated it focused hideouts of TTP. Pakistan additionally has stated it’s in “open war” with Afghanistan.
Andrabi stated Pakistan has by no means shied away from dialogue on the difficulty. “We remain engaged with the Chinese leadership on this issue and other relevant international partners,” he stated, however maintained that Pakistan is looking for written assurances from Kabul that Afghan soil is not going to be used for assaults towards Pakistan.
Although China has not formally confirmed the talks, the Chinese language International Ministry on Thursday stated Xi Jinping’s authorities has been “actively mediating and facilitating the resolution of conflicts between Afghanistan and Pakistan.” International Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated China has “always supported both sides in resolving their differences through dialogue and negotiation.”
Afghanistan says Pakistan’s shelling continues
Regardless of the peace talks, Pakistan’s operations towards the Pakistani Taliban alongside the border with Afghanistan and different militant teams will proceed, in keeping with Andrabi.
Afghanistan’s deputy authorities spokesperson, Hamdullah Fitrat, posted on X on Thursday night time that Pakistan since Wednesday had been “continuously carrying out mortar, missile and drone attacks” on the japanese Afghan provinces of Kunar, Paktika and Khost. He stated two folks have been killed and 25 folks, principally youngsters, had been wounded.
On Thursday, he stated, Pakistan had fired 185 long-range artillery shells into one district in Kunar, wounding 10 folks, whereas 178 long-range artillery and mortar shells hit different areas of Kunar, inflicting no casualties.
Andrabi dismissed an earlier accusation by a police spokesperson in Kunar who stated on Wednesday that mortars fired from Pakistan had killed two civilians and wounded one other six. Andrabi stated Pakistan conducts operations towards militants with care to keep away from civilian casualties.
Tensions have been particularly excessive since final month, when Afghanistan stated a Pakistani airstrike at a drug-treatment heart in Kabul killed greater than 400 folks. The dying toll couldn’t be independently confirmed, and Pakistan has disputed the declare. It denied concentrating on civilians, saying it struck an ammunition depot in Kabul.
The newest peace talks in China adopted earlier rounds held in Qatar and Turkey, throughout which the 2 sides agreed to a ceasefire which largely remained in place till Pakistan carried out strikes in Kabul and elsewhere in Afghanistan in late February, triggering border clashes.
Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have a historical past of tense relations, however the ongoing violence has alarmed the worldwide group, notably as a result of aside from outlawed TTP, different militant teams equivalent to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group stay current within the area and have sought to regroup.
