Afghanistan says peace talks in China to end fighting with Pakistan are constructive

Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday that peace talks held in China between Afghanistan and Pakistan to end cross-border fighting have been making positive progress. The discussions, which began on April 1 in Urumqi at China’s invitation, aim to resolve the conflict that erupted in February and has since claimed hundreds of lives.

The fighting intensified after Pakistan declared it was in “open war” with Afghanistan and conducted airstrikes inside Afghan territory, including in the capital Kabul. According to the United Nations’ office for humanitarian affairs, the conflict has displaced approximately 94,000 people, while another 100,000 residents in two Afghan border districts have been completely cut off from assistance since February.

Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with China’s ambassador to Afghanistan on Tuesday, expressing gratitude to Beijing for arranging and hosting the talks. Muttaqi also acknowledged mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

“Noting that constructive discussions have taken place so far, FM Muttaqi expressed hope that minor interpretations would not hinder the progress of the negotiations,” said Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal in a statement posted on social media platform X.

Despite these ongoing negotiations, Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of continuing to shell across its border during the talks, resulting in civilian casualties and injuries. Pakistan has not responded to these allegations.

The conflict has raised significant concerns within the international community, particularly because the border region is known to harbor militant organizations including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. The violence threatens to further destabilize an already volatile area and potentially provide these groups with opportunities to strengthen their positions.

Tensions between the neighboring countries have deep roots. Pakistan frequently accuses Afghanistan of providing sanctuary to militants who conduct deadly attacks inside Pakistan, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This group, while distinct from the Afghan Taliban, maintains close alliances with them. The Afghan government, which has been under Taliban control since the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, consistently denies these accusations.

On Tuesday, Pakistan’s military leadership reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing counterterrorism operations. During a meeting chaired by Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, commanders vowed to continue operations until “militant safe havens” are eliminated and “the use of Afghan territory against Pakistan” ceases. The military statement emphasized that “terrorist proxies” operating on behalf of “external sponsors” would be pursued and eliminated “relentlessly and without exception.”

The recent escalation represents the most severe fighting between the two countries in recent history. The conflict disrupted a ceasefire that had been brokered by Qatar in October following earlier clashes that killed dozens of soldiers, civilians, and suspected militants.

A particularly devastating incident occurred on March 17, when a Pakistani airstrike hit what Afghan officials described as a drug treatment center in Kabul. Afghan authorities reported that more than 400 people were killed in this attack. Pakistan denied targeting civilians, claiming their strikes were directed exclusively at military facilities.

As the peace talks continue in China, both regional stability and the humanitarian situation remain precarious. The conflict has created significant displacement and suffering among border communities, with critical humanitarian access severely restricted in several areas. The outcome of these negotiations will be crucial not only for Afghanistan-Pakistan relations but also for broader regional security concerns in South and Central Asia.