KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Pakistani media outlet “Khorasan Diary,” citing two Pakistani officials and one Taliban official, has reported that representatives of both sides are scheduled to meet today (Wednesday, 1 April) in Urumqi, China, to discuss reducing tensions.
According to the report, the meeting was planned during the visit of China’s Special Representative, Yu Xiaoyong, to Kabul and Islamabad.
A source familiar with the matter told Khorasan Diary that it was decided the negotiations would remain low-profile until meaningful progress is achieved.
It is not yet clear at what level officials from both sides will participate in these talks.
Earlier, China had expressed hope that the Taliban and Pakistan would engage in direct talks to resolve escalating tensions. Speaking at a press briefing on Monday (March 16), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing urges both sides to remain calm, exercise restraint, and pursue dialogue to end the ongoing conflict.
“China hopes Afghanistan and Pakistan will remain calm and exercise restraint, engage face to face ASAP, achieve a ceasefire at the earliest opportunity, and resolve differences and disputes through dialogue. China will continue to facilitate reconciliation and ease tensions,” Lin said.
He added that China has been actively mediating between the two sides, noting that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held discussions with the foreign ministers of both the Taliban administration and Pakistan. China’s special envoy has also traveled to Kabul and Islamabad, while Chinese embassies have maintained close contact with both parties, reflecting Beijing’s ongoing efforts to ease tensions in the region.
In addition, three days ago, Pakistani media reported that a joint peace jirga was planned in Peshawar, bringing together political leaders, tribal elders, religious scholars, civil society members, business representatives, and media figures to help ease tensions between the two sides. The jirga aimed to promote mutual respect, build trust, and support serious negotiations for lasting peace, with a joint declaration expected to be submitted to the governments of both countries.
These discussions come as clashes between the Taliban and Pakistan have been ongoing for more than a month.
During this period, Pakistan has carried out air and rocket strikes targeting various areas in Afghanistan.
In the most recent airstrike, a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul was hit.
The Taliban stated that 400 people were killed and 250 others injured in the attack, while a United Nations official told Reuters that the death toll was 143.
The planned meeting in China reflects ongoing regional efforts to de-escalate tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, as continued instability along the border raises concerns about broader security and humanitarian impacts in the region.
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.
