Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China convene in Urumqi for crucial trilateral discussions focused on de-escalating tensions, addressing terrorism concerns, and exploring opportunities for enhanced regional cooperation and trade.
IMAGE: Residents gather at the site, following Pakistani airstrikes, in Bihsud district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, February 22, 2026. Photograph: Reuters
Key Points
- The meeting marks the first high-level interaction since Pakistan’s Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against alleged terror hideouts in Afghanistan.
- China is pushing for confidence-building measures, including reopening trade routes, to improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- Pakistan and China are concerned about the presence and activities of terrorist groups like TTP and ETIM operating in Afghanistan.
- Discussions aim to explore verifiable mechanisms to address Pakistan and China’s key demands regarding terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan.
Officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan and China are meeting on Wednesday in the Chinese city of Urumqi under the trilateral mechanism, according to a media report.
It is the first high-level interaction between the two warring neighbours since Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against alleged terror hideouts in Afghanistan on February 26.
Quoting a senior Foreign Ministry official, who asked not to be named due to the sensitive nature of negotiations, Dawn reported that the meeting is not a “mediation effort per se”.
It said the meeting is focused on sharing perspectives on the latest escalation. No major outcomes are expected, though China is pushing for confidence-building measures, such as reopening trade routes, it added.
Another official, familiar with the development, said Beijing requested Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who was in the Chinese capital on Tuesday, for Pakistan’s participation as Kabul had asked for assistance from the Chinese in bringing Islamabad to the table.
He added that China also has concerns about the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) – a transnational terrorist outfit known to operate in Afghanistan.
“The Afghan side is showing willingness to walk the talk this time and has agreed to discuss a verifiable mechanism on some of the key demands by Pakistan and China on TTP and ETIM,” the official added.
He elaborated that these are “exploratory discussions” to gauge the seriousness of the Afghan side. The Director General-level talks are being led by the Additional Secretary of the Afghan desk at the Foreign Office from the Pakistan side, he added.
The official further said that the diplomat was already present in China as he was accompanying the foreign minister. “The Pakistan delegation also includes military and intelligence officials.”
The Afghan delegation includes members of the interior and foreign ministries as well as officials from Afghanistan’s General Directorate of Intelligence.
Resurgence of terrorism in Pakistan
There has been a resurgence in terrorism in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded.
Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched on the night of February 26, following what Pakistan called “unprovoked firing” by the Afghan Taliban from across the border.
From March 18 to 23, Pakistan observed a five-day temporary pause in the operation on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, with the Foreign Office later saying it would continue “until its objectives are achieved”.
De-escalation requests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye were part of the reasons behind the pauses announced by both sides, according to their respective statements.
In early March, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir had said that peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan could only prevail if the Taliban regime “renounced their support for terrorism and terrorist organisations”.
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