Peace Talks Restart in China as Pakistan and Afghanistan Seek Truce

Pakistan and Afghanistan have begun a fresh round of negotiations in China, aiming to stop the worst fighting between the two Muslim countries since 2021. Beijing has stepped in as mediator, hoping to reach a deal that would reduce the heavy casualties on both sides, especially those suffered in Afghanistan after Pakistan started air attacks in February. Islamabad says the Taliban shelters and backs militants that attack inside Pakistan, while Kabul insists that such militancy is a domestic issue for its own country. The new talks coincide with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Beijing, where he is also pushing for Chinese help in brokering a peace agreement between the United States and Iran. Delegates from foreign and defence ministries of both nations travelled to Urumqi, a city in northwestern China. The participants are mid‑level officials and chose to remain anonymous because they were not authorised to speak publicly. Neither the Pakistani foreign ministry nor Kabul’s administration responded to requests for comment.The discussions will focus on a possible ceasefire and the reopening of border crossings to restore trade and travel. A Taliban leader in Kabul confirmed that top leadership had agreed to join the process, a move encouraged by China. Earlier this week both sides exchanged heavy fire after a temporary ceasefire along their 2, 600‑kilometre border was announced for the Eid al‑Fitr festival and requested by Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan ended the pause last week after an Afghan attack, while Afghanistan has yet to confirm whether it is still observing the ceasefire. Kabul reported that more than 400 people died when Pakistan struck a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul last month, an event that prompted the suspension of fighting. A reporter counted over 100 bodies at a hospital following the strike, yet Pakistan denies the claim and says the target was military infrastructure. The Chinese mediation comes at a time when Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, who hosted earlier talks between the two neighbours in October, are also involved in the U. S. and Israeli conflict over Iran.