Pakistan says a new round of peace talks with Afghanistan is underway in China : NPR

ISLAMABAD — On Thursday, Pakistan confirmed that it is engaged in peace talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban government in China. Beijing is attempting to mediate a lasting ceasefire following weeks of violence that have claimed hundreds of lives and disrupted trade and travel across borders.

The announcement of these talks came a day after officials from both countries informed The Associated Press that their representatives had traveled to Urumqi in western China for this purpose.

The representatives for Pakistan remain unidentified. Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, posted on X that a “mid-level delegation” from Afghanistan had gone to Urumqi for the talks at China’s request.

Balkhi expressed Afghanistan’s belief that diplomatic engagement based on mutual respect and non-interference could lead to “practical and lasting solutions” to issues between the two nations.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, confirmed the ongoing negotiations during a news briefing in Islamabad. “Yes, Pakistan has dispatched a delegation to Urumqi, aligning with its consistent stance and long-standing practice of supporting a credible process that can help find a durable solution to cross-border terrorism originating from Afghanistan,” he stated.

Pakistan says success of talks lies with Afghanistan

Andrabi emphasized that the success of the talks primarily hinges on Kabul’s actions.

“The responsibility for a genuine process rests with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate visible and verifiable action against terrorist groups operating from its soil against Pakistan,” he noted.

Pakistan has recently experienced a rise in attacks, many claimed by the Pakistani Taliban. On Thursday night, a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a police station in the Bannu district of northwestern Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of at least five people and injuries to several others, according to local police chief Rafi Ullah.

Pakistan frequently accuses Afghanistan of offering sanctuary to militants committing attacks inside Pakistan, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. Although the TTP is distinct from the Afghan Taliban, the two groups maintain an alliance. Kabul has denied these allegations.

The recent hostilities mark the deadliest period since February when Afghanistan’s Taliban government accused Pakistan of launching strikes in Kabul and other regions, resulting in mostly civilian casualties. Pakistan asserted it targeted TTP hideouts and declared it is in an “open war” with Afghanistan.

Andrabi mentioned Pakistan’s willingness to engage in dialogue on the issue, stating, “We remain engaged with the Chinese leadership and other relevant international partners.” However, he insisted that Pakistan seeks written assurances from Kabul that Afghan soil will not be used for attacks against Pakistan.

Although China has not officially confirmed the talks, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that Xi Jinping’s government is “actively mediating and facilitating the resolution of conflicts between Afghanistan and Pakistan.” The ministry’s spokesperson, Mao Ning, affirmed that China has “always supported both sides in resolving their differences through dialogue and negotiation.”

Afghanistan says Pakistan’s shelling continues

Despite the peace talks, Pakistan’s operations against the Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups along the border with Afghanistan will persist, according to Andrabi.

Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesperson, Hamdullah Fitrat, posted on X on Thursday night that Pakistan had been “continuously carrying out mortar, missile, and drone attacks” on the eastern Afghan provinces of Kunar, Paktika, and Khost since Wednesday. He reported that two people had been killed and 25, mostly children, injured.

On Thursday, he added that Pakistan had fired 185 long-range artillery shells into one district in Kunar, injuring 10 people, while 178 long-range artillery and mortar shells struck other areas of Kunar without causing casualties.

Andrabi dismissed a previous accusation from a police spokesperson in Kunar, who stated on Wednesday that mortars from Pakistan had killed two civilians and injured another six. Andrabi asserted that Pakistan conducts its operations against militants with care to avoid civilian casualties.

Tensions have been particularly high since last month when Afghanistan claimed a Pakistani airstrike at a drug-treatment center in Kabul killed over 400 people. The death toll remains unverified, and Pakistan has denied targeting civilians, stating it struck an ammunition depot in Kabul.

The peace talks in China follow earlier rounds held in Qatar and Turkey, during which both sides agreed to a ceasefire that largely held until Pakistan conducted strikes in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan in late February, leading to renewed border clashes.

Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have a history of strained relations, and the ongoing violence has raised concerns globally. Besides the outlawed TTP, other militant groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State group remain active in the region and are attempting to regroup.