Officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China are meeting in Urumqi, China, under a trilateral mechanism, according to a senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) official. The meeting follows Pakistan’s launch of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan on February 26, which had largely halted diplomatic contact between the two sides.
The MoFA official, speaking anonymously, said the meeting is not a “mediation effort” but an exploratory discussion. A Pakistani source added that China invited Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar after Kabul sought Beijing’s help in bringing Islamabad to the table. China also expressed concerns about the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), active in Afghanistan.
The Afghan side agreed to discuss a verifiable mechanism addressing key Pakistani and Chinese concerns on TTP and ETIM. DG-level talks are led by Pakistan’s additional secretary for the Afghan desk, with military and intelligence officials present. Afghanistan’s delegation includes representatives from its interior and foreign ministries and intelligence directorate.
Since the Taliban’s return in 2021, terrorism in Pakistan has increased, prompting repeated appeals to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries. Operation Ghazab lil-Haq began after unprovoked cross-border firing, paused briefly for Eid, and will continue “until objectives are achieved.” Chief of Defence Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir stressed that lasting peace requires the Taliban regime to renounce support for terrorism and militant groups.
