Representatives from Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban governments have resumed talks in China, as Beijing attempts to broker a durable ceasefire after more than a month of fighting. The discussions are taking place in Urumqi, in northern China.

China's Mediation Role

China has been actively urging both sides to resume dialogue since late February. Its special envoy, Yue Xiaoyong, met with his Pakistani counterpart, Mohammad Sadiq, last month following a visit to Kabul. China has not yet publicly commented on the current round of talks.

Delegation Details

The Afghan delegation consists of five members, including officials from the foreign, defense, and interior ministries, as well as a representative from the country’s intelligence agency. Details were provided by an Afghan official speaking on condition of anonymity.

Escalation of Tensions

The talks are seen as a potential relief for millions in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Recent clashes escalated to the point where Pakistan declared it was in “open war” with Afghanistan.

Last month, Afghanistan alleged a Pakistani airstrike hit a drug-treatment center in Kabul, resulting in over 400 casualties, a claim Pakistan disputes. Pakistan stated it targeted terrorist infrastructure, not civilian areas, asserting it only went after “terrorist infrastructure” and “military setups.”

Previous Attempts at De-escalation

A temporary ceasefire was observed during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, but fighting later resumed, albeit at a lower intensity. Previous attempts to mediate a ceasefire, including talks in Saudi Arabia and a Qatari-mediated agreement in October, have yielded inconclusive results.

Concerns Over Regional Stability

The violence has raised concerns within the international community, particularly due to the presence of militant groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State group in the region. Pakistan’s former special envoy for Afghanistan, Asif Durrani, expressed hope for substantive progress, emphasizing the need for a verification mechanism to prevent attacks originating from Afghan territory.

The current talks are expected to last for days and represent the beginning of a broader peace process between the two sides.