Pakistan and the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan have resumed negotiations with mediation from China, aiming to achieve a durable ceasefire after weeks of escalating conflict, according to Pakistani officials on Wednesday.
Sources familiar with the process said the discussions are primarily focused on halting ongoing hostilities. Delegations from both sides are reportedly meeting in Urumqi, a northern Chinese city, though officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief the media.
So far, China has not issued any formal statement, and Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has neither confirmed nor denied the talks. Nonetheless, insiders suggest the negotiations offer a hopeful opportunity to reduce tensions impacting millions in both countries.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of harboring militants responsible for cross-border attacks, particularly the Pakistani Taliban. Although this group operates separately, it maintains close connections with the Afghan Taliban, who returned to power in 2021 following the withdrawal of US-led forces. Kabul has consistently denied these allegations.
Relations deteriorated further last month after Afghan officials claimed a Pakistani airstrike hit a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, reportedly killing over 400 people. The United Nations stated that the casualty figures are still under verification. Pakistan rejected accusations of targeting civilians, insisting the strike was aimed at a weapons facility.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar reiterated that only militant infrastructure was targeted, not civilian sites, emphasizing operations against Taliban-linked military and terrorist positions.
Although both countries observed a temporary truce during Eid al-Fitr, clashes resumed afterward, though at a lower intensity than the heavy fighting seen in February and March, when Pakistan carried out multiple airstrikes on suspected militant locations inside Afghanistan.
The conflict has intensified in recent years. In February, Pakistan declared it was in a state of “open war” with Afghanistan. The escalating violence has drawn global concern, particularly given the continued presence of groups such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State in the region.
According to sources, the latest round of talks began after both sides accepted China’s offer to mediate. However, tensions have persisted, undermining earlier ceasefire efforts, including one brokered by Qatar in October, and previous negotiations held in Istanbul in November, which failed to secure a lasting peace.