Pakistan Shifts Responsibility to Afghanistan in Border Dispute

Pakistan asserts that the primary responsibility for ending the escalating conflict lies with Afghanistan. This statement came as preliminary talks between the two neighboring countries commenced in Urumqi, China, on Wednesday, hosted by China, to address months of hostilities that have resulted in numerous casualties on both sides.

Urumqi Talks and Pakistan’s Core Concerns

The negotiations began after Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Tahir Hussain Andrabi, expressed hope for a “durable solution” during a press briefing in Islamabad. He emphasized that Pakistan’s participation in the talks reaffirms its key concerns regarding cross-border terrorism.

Demand for Verifiable Action Against Terrorist Groups

Andrabi stated, “The burden of real process, however, lies with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate visible and verifiable actions against terrorist groups using soil against Pakistan.” He characterized the discussions as “working level talks” and confirmed that the Pakistani delegation was still engaged in negotiations as of Thursday.

Regional Diplomacy and Previous Truce Efforts

Pakistan has recently been actively involved in diplomatic efforts to facilitate negotiations between Washington and Tehran to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. China has expressed support for Pakistan’s initiatives, aligning with the interests of Gulf countries impacted by the regional conflict. Beijing has also dispatched a special envoy to Kabul to mediate a resolution.

Temporary Pause in Fighting

Last month, Pakistan and Afghanistan announced a temporary pause in fighting to coincide with the end of Ramadan, following requests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Türkiye. However, reports of sporadic attacks in remote border regions have surfaced since the truce concluded. The interim Afghan Taliban government continues to deny providing safe haven to terrorist organizations.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have previously attempted to mediate and reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the conflict intensified in February.