ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday confirmed that a delegation has been sent to Urumqi, China, for talks with the Afghan government, with the Foreign Office insisting the engagement is at a senior working level and reiterating that Islamabad’s counter-terror operations remain unaffected.
“Yes, Pakistan has sent a delegation to Urumqi in line with its consistent position. The burden lies on Afghanistan to address our concerns and act against groups,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said during the weekly briefing when asked about the reports.
The #Pakistani spokesman said the talks in #Urumqi are working level talks and senior officials are involved. He dispelled the impression as the “false narrative” of these talks being “junior level talks” as some elements are giving such an impression. https://t.co/mmGqg1OXYl
— Tahir Khan (@taahir_khan) April 2, 2026
Diplomatic sources in Islamabad and Kabul indicated that the talks were scheduled to take place later on Thursday.
During the briefing, Mr Andrabi stressed that the Urumqi talks are “working level talks headed by senior officials,” rejecting what he described as a “false narrative” portraying them as junior-level engagements.
“There is no material change. The operation *Ghazab lil Haq* is ongoing. There is no change to any action with regards to any talks taking place,” he clarified, underscoring that Pakistan’s counter-terror campaign against groups operating from Afghan soil continues despite the dialogue.
It may be added here that relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan under Taliban rule have remained tense since 2021, largely due to Islamabad’s accusations that the Taliban provides safe havens to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. The Taliban denies the charge, instead accusing Pakistan of interference and 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.”
In the meanwhile, China stepped in as mediator since the escalation, driven by concerns over regional stability and its economic stakes in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and potential Belt and Road projects in Afghanistan.
In March, Special Envoy Yue Xiaoyong conducted shuttle diplomacy between Islamabad and Kabul, urging restraint and dialogue. Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other Chinese officials 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 clashes by mid-March, though underlying issues such as TTP sanctuaries remain unresolved.
Diplomats believe while Thursday’s confirmation marks the first official acknowledgment of the Urumqi talks, Islamabad has made clear that dialogue does not signal any softening of its stance on militant sanctuaries. Diplomatic observers say if the talks make progress, they could help stabilize the border and reduce militant crossfire, while also advancing China’s regional economic ambitions.
