KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – China and Pakistan have called on the Taliban to take stronger actions against militant groups operating in Afghanistan, raising concerns about regional security during high-level talks in Kabul.
The sixth round of trilateral meetings between the foreign ministers of the Taliban, China, and Pakistan was held on Wednesday. The discussions focused on political, economic, and security cooperation, with all three sides emphasizing the importance of strengthening ties and addressing shared challenges.
In a statement, the Taliban’s foreign ministry said the meeting reviewed earlier decisions and explored ways to expand ties. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi stressed economic cooperation, insisting it should not be tied to other issues.
Muttaqi said that the Taliban aims to shift global narratives about Afghanistan from security challenges to its role as a “crossroads of economic connectivity.” He added that all three countries have significant potential that should be used effectively.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described Beijing’s relations with Taliban-controlled Afghanistan as developing and noted that cooperation has expanded across multiple sectors. He welcomed the upgrade of diplomatic ties between the two sides to ambassador level, calling it a positive step forward.
According to the statement, Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar also praised the trilateral meetings, describing them as a valuable opportunity to boost regional cooperation and strengthen economic and political ties among the three nations.
However, both China and Pakistan pressed the Taliban on security issues. Wang Yi, during a meeting with Taliban Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, urged the Taliban to understand China’s security concerns and take them seriously.
“We hope Afghanistan understands our security concerns, because appropriate security cooperation between the two countries will pave the way for Afghanistan’s progress,” Wang was quoted as saying in a Taliban statement.
Wang also met with Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani to discuss joint border security measures, coordination between border forces, and counter-narcotics efforts, the Taliban said.
China is concerned about the presence of members of the “Turkistan Islamic Party” in Afghanistan. The group is made up of Uyghurs, and China considers it a terrorist organization and a threat to its national security.
Pakistan, meanwhile, highlighted a recent rise in cross-border attacks and the ongoing threat posed by militant groups operating from Afghan soil. In a statement, the Pakistani foreign ministry said Dar urged the Taliban to take “concrete and verifiable measures” against groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)/Majeed Brigade.
