Pakistan said Thursday that responsibility for ending its escalating conflict with Afghanistan lies with Kabul, as both sides engage in preliminary negotiations aimed at halting hostilities.
The two neighbors have been locked in rising tensions amid accusations from Islamabad that Afghan territory is being used by militant groups to carry out cross-border attacks. The Afghan side has repeatedly denied providing safe haven to such groups, maintaining that it does not support activities targeting Pakistan.
Talks between the two countries began on Wednesday in Urumqi, following a visit by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Beijing, where he held discussions with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi described the discussions as “working-level talks” and confirmed they are still ongoing, expressing hope for a “durable solution.”
“Our participation in the talks is a reiteration of our core concerns,” Andrabi said, adding that Afghanistan must demonstrate “visible and verifiable actions” against groups allegedly operating from its soil. He stressed that meaningful progress depends on Kabul’s willingness to address these security concerns.
China has supported Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and has also sought to mediate between the two sides, dispatching a special envoy to Kabul in an attempt to broker an agreement. The push for dialogue aligns with broader regional concerns, particularly among Gulf countries affected by the spillover of instability.
Although both sides agreed to a temporary pause in fighting during the end of Ramadan last month, following appeals from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Türkiye, sporadic clashes have since resumed in remote border areas, underscoring the fragility of the truce and the urgency of reaching a lasting settlement.
