ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has conveyed three key demands to the Afghan Taliban during talks in Urumqi, while China, which negotiated the last round, is trying to convince both sides to agree on a five-point framework to resolve the issues.
The three demands raised by Islamabad at the outset include that Kabul formally declare the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) a terrorist organisation, dismantle its infrastructure and provide verifiable evidence of the action.
These demands form the basis of Pakistan’s negotiating position, which sources say has hardened amid persistent security concerns.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has so far only issued an initial statement confirming that talks are taking place in Urumqi, without offering further details on the agenda or progress.
In the latest weekly briefing, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan’s participation in the talks being held in Urumqi should not be interpreted as a change in policy, particularly with regard to ongoing security operations.
“There is no material change to the current Operation Ghazab Lil Haq that I mentioned last week,” the spokesperson added.
On Sunday, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi acknowledged that dialogue was still underway and that the Taliban regime wanted to resolve issues with Pakistan through talks.
Sources said China has been playing a quiet but active role through sustained shuttle diplomacy, with its special envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, engaging both Islamabad and Kabul in recent months to narrow differences and bring them to the negotiating table.
Pakistan has also made clear that the scope of talks will remain limited to counterterrorism and border security, ruling out any broader political engagement at this stage. Sources say the focus is on addressing Islamabad’s concerns about terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory and ensuring mechanisms to prevent cross-border attacks.
It is believed that a framework is being discussed that could pave the way for a possible understanding between both sides. The proposed roadmap includes a ceasefire agreement, anti-terror guarantees from the Afghan Taliban, the dismantling of terrorist sanctuaries inside Afghanistan and measures to facilitate safe trade routes.
It also provides for the establishment of a more structured and institutionalized dialogue mechanism between Islamabad and Kabul.
Both sides have sent technical-level delegations to Urumqi, reflecting the operational nature of the discussions.
The Pakistan team is led by Syed Ali Asad Gilani, additional secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs responsible for Afghanistan and West Asia, and includes officials from defense and intelligence agencies.
The Afghan Taliban delegation is headed by Mohibullah Waseq, chief of staff to Amir Khan Muttaqi, and includes representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defense and the Intelligence Directorate.
Although preliminary engagements have begun, sources said Chinese officials are holding separate meetings with each side to bridge gaps before moving toward direct, structured negotiations.
The choice of Urumqi as a venue is considered significant, given its location in China’s Xinjiang region, where Beijing has long had concerns about militancy linked to groups such as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), whose fighters are believed to have a presence in Afghanistan.
Diplomatic observers say the talks represent a cautious but important effort to stabilize relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, although major differences remain and any progress would depend on Kabul’s willingness to address Islamabad’s key security demands.
