NEGOTIATORS from Islamabad and Kabul have opened a new round of talks in China to end the deadliest fighting between the two nations since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, sources said.
Beijing has been trying to mediate a negotiated settlement to the conflict, which has claimed heavy losses on both sides.
Islamabad accuses the Taliban of harbouring and supporting militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul countered by saying the militancy is Pakistan’s domestic problem.
The new round of talks coincides with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Beijing to seek support for Islamabad’s initiative to broker a peace deal between the United States and Iran.
Foreign and defence ministry delegates from both countries have travelled to the Chinese city of Urumqi, four sources in Pakistan and Kabul said.
The four spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to disclose the information, saying the talks involved mid-level officials.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry and the Kabul administration did not respond to requests for comment.
The talks will focus on a potential ceasefire and on the reopening of border crossings to allow trade and travel, they said.
The mediation efforts come as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, who hosted talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan during previous clashes in October, find themselves embroiled in the ongoing Middle East conflict. — Reuters
