‘Useful discussions’: Afghan Taliban signals progress in Pakistan talks

Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Tuesday said that recent talks with Pakistan have been “useful”, raising hopes of easing tensions between the two neighbouring countries. The discussions were held in Urumqi, a city in northwestern China, as part of Beijing’s efforts to mediate between the two sides.

The meeting comes at a time when the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have deteriorated sharply. Once close allies, the two countries have faced large number of conflicts since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.

According to Reuters, Afghan officials said that the discussions focused on finding ways to resolve ongoing disputes and reduce tensions along the border. China, which shares borders with both countries, has tried to play the role of a mediator to prevent further escalation.

Rising tensions

Ties between Kabul and Islamabad have deteriorated in recent months particularly due to security concerns. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban of allowing militant groups, especially Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to operate from Afghan soil.

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The Taliban has denied these allegations, saying it does not allow any group to use Afghanistan to launch attacks on other countries. However, cross-border incidents and clashes have continued, increasing military pressure on both sides.

Pakistan has also carried out strikes inside Afghan territory in recent time, targeting suspected militant hideouts. These actions have been criticised by Taliban, which accuses Pakistani military of violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Kabul.

China comes in as mediator

China has stepped up its efforts to broker peace between the two countries, signaling its growing role in regional diplomacy. Beijing has strong economic and strategic interests in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, including projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

By hosting talks in Urumqi, China is attempting to bring both sides to the negotiating table and prevent instability in its neighbourhood. Peace in this region is also important for China’s security concerns in Xinjiang.

Challenges remain

While the Taliban has described the talks as “useful”, there is still no clear breakthrough in the negotiations. Key issues such as militant activity, border management along Durand line, and mutual distrust between the two remain unresolved.

For now, the Urumqi talks have provided a base line to engage with each other, deeper differences need to be resolved to go ahead. Whether this leads to a lasting improvement in ties will depend on how both sides act in the coming weeks.