KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Representatives from China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan held a week-long round of informal talks in Urumqi, Xinjiang, from April 1 to 7, according to a statement released by Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The delegations included officials responsible for foreign affairs, defense, and security, highlighting the seriousness of the dialogue amid ongoing regional tensions.
During the discussions, both the Afghan and Pakistani sides reaffirmed their commitment to the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
They emphasized the need to resolve their differences as soon as possible and expressed willingness to work toward improving bilateral relations. Both sides also agreed to refrain from any actions that could escalate or further complicate the situation along their shared border.
The Afghan and Pakistani delegations commended China for hosting the talks and acknowledged its mediation efforts and arrangements. They expressed appreciation for China’s neutral and constructive stance, describing its role as fair and supportive in facilitating dialogue between the two sides.
According to the statement, all three parties agreed to continue discussions on a comprehensive plan aimed at addressing key issues affecting Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.
Core and priority concerns were identified during the meetings, and participants described the Urumqi process as substantive and productive. The sides also agreed to maintain ongoing communication and dialogue to build on the progress achieved during the talks.
Earlier, three days ago, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, said that negotiations between the Taliban delegation and Pakistan were already underway in Urumqi.
Muttaqi emphasized that the Taliban were participating “with sincerity and a solution-oriented approach,” seeking to resolve issues through dialogue and mutual respect, while reserving the right to defend Afghanistan’s territorial integrity. The Taliban had officially sent a delegation to China to hold talks with Pakistan.
China has also expressed concern over the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan that threaten its citizens and interests. In January, a suicide bombing at a Chinese-run restaurant in Kabul’s Shahr-i-Naw neighborhood killed one Chinese national and six Afghan civilians, while wounding five other Chinese nationals. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).
In addition, Chinese nationals have been targeted near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border in recent months. In December 2025, at least five Chinese contractors working in the border area were killed and five others injured in two separate attacks launched from Afghanistan. Following these incidents, China urged Tajikistan to investigate and advised its citizens to leave the border region.
China has increasingly positioned itself as a key regional mediator, using diplomacy and dialogue to reduce tensions between neighboring countries. By hosting talks such as the Urumqi meeting, Beijing seeks to promote stability along its western borders and strengthen regional cooperation.
Its approach focuses on encouraging political solutions, maintaining open communication channels, and providing a neutral platform for negotiation—efforts that have become especially significant amid recurring tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The ongoing clashes, which began about one and a half months ago, underscore the urgency of the Urumqi talks.
Pakistan and the Taliban, once allies, have clashed repeatedly along the border in recent months after Islamabad accused the Taliban of sheltering members of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) responsible for dozens of deadly attacks inside Pakistan. UN figures indicate at least 289 civilians were killed or injured in Pakistani airstrikes across several provinces since late February, before the Kabul strike.
The escalation marks one of the most serious spikes in tensions between the two sides in recent months. The Taliban authorities have accused Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty, while Islamabad has previously said its operations target militant groups it claims operate from Afghan territory.
