ISLAMABAD/KABUL: Unconfirmed reports circulating in diplomatic circles suggest that Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have quietly resumed negotiations in Urumqi, the capital of China’s Xinjiang region, with Beijing playing the role of mediator.
Pakistan and Afghan Taliban have resumed negotiations with the mediation of China at a senior working level in Urumqi in China — Pakistan’s delegation is being headed by an Additional Secretary at the Pakistani Foreign Ministry
— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) April 1, 2026
According to these accounts, Pakistan’s delegation is being led by an Additional Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, while senior Taliban representatives are also present. The venue, Urumqi, has previously hosted Afghan-related discussions and is seen as a geographically convenient, low-profile setting near the region.
The reports surfaced in the wake of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s recent visit to China, which followed a day after Islamabad hosted crucial Middle East peace talks.
ALERT: Pakistan and the Interim Afghan Government will be meeting at Urumqi in China today to discuss a way forward for a deescalation ladder based on previous meetings in three other countries. Two Pakistani officials and an Afghan Taliban Official involved in the process…
— The Khorasan Diary (@khorasandiary) April 1, 2026
Chinese shuttle diplomacy
China has stepped up its mediation efforts since the escalation of Pakistan–Afghanistan tensions earlier this year. In March, Special Envoy for Afghanistan Yue Xiaoyong conducted shuttle diplomacy between Islamabad and Kabul, urging restraint and dialogue. Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other Chinese officials repeatedly stressed that disputes must be resolved “through dialogue, not force.”
A message from President Xi Jinping was reportedly conveyed to both sides, contributing to a tapering of intense clashes by mid-March, though underlying issues such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) sanctuaries remain unresolved.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan under Taliban rule have remained fraught since 2021, largely due to Islamabad’s accusations that the Taliban provides safe havens to TTP militants. Cross-border militant activity, fencing disputes, and occasional clashes have further strained ties. The Taliban denies harboring anti-Pakistan groups and accuses Islamabad of interference, including airstrikes.
Tensions escalated sharply in late February 2026 when Pakistan launched airstrikes on alleged militant targets near Kabul and Kandahar. The Taliban retaliated, leading to tit-for-tat clashes and casualties on both sides. At one point, Pakistani officials described the situation as an “open war.”
China’s strategic calculus
Beijing’s mediation is driven by multiple considerations:
– Economic stakes: safeguarding investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and exploring connectivity into Afghanistan, including mining projects such as Mes Aynak.
– Security concerns: preventing militant spillover into Xinjiang and protecting Chinese personnel and projects in both countries.
– Regional influence: positioning itself as a constructive player in South and Central Asia, especially as other mediators like Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia face limitations.
Diplomatic observers caution that while reports of talks in Urumqi remain unconfirmed, any progress could help stabilize the border, reduce militant crossfire, and advance China’s economic ambitions in the region. For now, both Islamabad and Kabul remain publicly silent, reflecting the sensitivity of the negotiations.
