Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have resumed negotiations under China’s mediation, marking a renewed diplomatic push to ease tensions following a fresh wave of border clashes after temporary Eid-ul-Fitr ceasefire, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday, quoting sources.
According to the TV channel report, high-level working talks began in Urumqi on Wednesday, with sources confirming that the Pakistani delegation is being led by the additional secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, Pakistan and Afghanistan are holding talks in China to end months of conflict, two officials from Islamabad told AFP on Wednesday.
"A delegation led by an official from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in Urumqi to hold talks with the Afghan Taliban. The meeting is taking place at the request of our Chinese friends," a senior security official told AFP.
"The meeting is to set a base for full-scale dialogue," a second senior government official told AFP on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak with the media.
The resumption of dialogue comes against the hostilities between the two neighbours. As of late March 2026, there were sporadic incidents of violence but the temporary Eid ceasefire was holding.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban-led government in Kabul of providing sanctuary to TTP militants, an allegation the Afghan authorities deny, insisting that no group is allowed to use their soil for cross-border attacks.
Despite the fragile security situation, diplomatic channels remain active. Mediators have continued efforts to bring both sides to the negotiating table, underscoring the urgency of de-escalation.
The development came after China's Special Envoy on Afghan Affairs Yue Xiaoyong had shuttled between Afghanistan and Pakistan from March 7 to 14 to mediate between the two neighbours.
China had said on March 16 that its special envoy had spent a week mediating between Afghanistan and Pakistan and had urged an immediate ceasefire after deadly cross-border clashes flared. “China has consistently mediated the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan through its own channels,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular news briefing.
Beijing’s foreign ministry also said it had sent its special envoy for Afghan affairs to both countries to mediate the conflict.
A separate foreign ministry statement said special envoy Yue Xiaoyong had visited the two countries between March 7 and 14.
In Afghanistan, Yue met Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi as well as the minister of commerce and industry.
China's Special Envoy on Afghan Affairs Yue Xiaoyong meets with Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan.–File photo
Yue also held meetings with high-level officials in Pakistan, including Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch.
“He urged both sides to maintain calm and restraint, to implement an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, and to resolve their contradictions and differences through dialogue,” the Chinese ministry’s statement said.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi also held a call with Muttaqi on the following Friday, during which he promised to continue “making active efforts” to reconcile Afghanistan and Pakistan and ease tensions.
“The use of force will only complicate the situation... and threaten regional peace and stability,” Wang told Muttaqi.
China's Special Envoy on Afghan Affairs Yue Xiaoyong meets with Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Amna Baloch.–File photo
In a separate but significant development, Pakistan and China have also jointly advanced a five-point initiative aimed at reducing tensions in the Gulf and Middle East amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The initiative calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and emphasises the need to prevent the conflict from spreading further. Both countries have stressed the importance of ensuring uninterrupted humanitarian assistance to all affected areas.
They have also highlighted the need to safeguard the sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and Gulf states, reiterating that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable means of resolving conflicts.
The two sides have urged all parties to halt attacks on civilians and non-military targets, adhere strictly to international humanitarian law, and avoid targeting critical infrastructure, including energy facilities and peaceful nuclear installations.
Pakistan and China have called for the protection of shipping lanes, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz.
The initiative also underscores the importance of strengthening multilateralism and reinforcing the central role of the United Nations in conflict resolution.
Reporter: Anwer Abbas