China confirmed Wednesday that Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to avoid escalating their armed conflict following a week of informal trilateral meetings in Urumqi, Xinjiang from April 1-7.
The confirmation from Beijing marks the first official acknowledgment of the China-hosted talks, though diplomats from both Pakistan and Afghanistan had previously reported the meetings. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the three delegations engaged in frank discussions in a positive atmosphere.
Representatives from China, Afghanistan and Pakistan held a week of informal meetings in Urumqi, Xinjiang, from April 1 to 7
Mao Ning, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman — Chinese foreign ministry
The neighboring countries have been locked in violent confrontation since late February over Pakistani claims that Afghanistan harbors extremists responsible for cross-border attacks. The Taliban government in Kabul denies these allegations.
Hostilities escalated sharply when Pakistani airstrikes were followed by an Afghan ground offensive, with Islamabad declaring "open war." The conflict reached a devastating peak on March 16 when a Pakistani strike on a hospital in Kabul killed hundreds of civilians, sparking international condemnation.
Dawn emphasizes Pakistan's consistent position that Afghanistan must take "visible and verifiable actions" against terrorist groups. The outlet frames Pakistan as the aggrieved party seeking legitimate security concerns while maintaining diplomatic engagement through China's mediation efforts.
NDTV presents a balanced account focusing on the diplomatic breakthrough while highlighting the civilian casualties and economic consequences. India's perspective emphasizes regional stability concerns given its own complex relationships with both Pakistan and the Taliban government.
Adevarul frames the story through a European lens emphasizing China's growing diplomatic influence in regional conflicts. The outlet highlights the constructive atmosphere while noting the lack of concrete results, reflecting European concerns about both terrorism and Chinese regional expansion.
Saudi media frames China's mediation role matter-of-factly while emphasizing Pakistan's accusations against Afghanistan regarding militant harboring, reflecting Riyadh's careful balancing act between its strategic partnership with China and concerns about regional terrorism spillover. The coverage subtly highlights the militant dimension of the conflict, aligning with Saudi Arabia's broader anti-terrorism stance while avoiding taking sides in the Pakistan-Afghanistan dispute.
Turkish media presents China's diplomatic intervention as a straightforward mediation effort, reflecting Turkey's pragmatic approach to great power competition and its own experience managing complex regional conflicts. The neutral framing suggests Turkey views China's growing influence in South Asian security matters as neither threatening nor particularly beneficial to Turkish interests, focusing instead on the practical aspects of conflict resolution.
their commitment to resolving their differences as soon as possible and realising a return to normalcy in bilateral relations, agreeing not to take any actions that would escalate or complicate the situation
Mao Ning, describing the Afghanistan-Pakistan agreement — Chinese foreign ministry
Pakistan's Foreign Office declined to comment on the development when approached by local media. The talks occurred under a trilateral mechanism as tensions remain elevated following recent cross-border security incidents.
Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against what it calls terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, leading to a near-complete closure of the land border between the two countries. The border shutdown has resulted in significant economic consequences for both nations.
A temporary truce implemented during the Eid al-Fitr holiday concluded on March 24. The current diplomatic engagement represents the first sustained contact between the sides since Pakistan's military operation began.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
The burden of real process, however, lies with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate visible and verifiable actions against terrorist groups using Afghan soil against Pakistan
Tahir Andrabi, Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson — Dawn
The China-mediated talks reflect Beijing's growing role as a regional mediator. De-escalation requests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey were also part of the reasons behind previous temporary pauses announced by both sides.