Pakistani officials state that peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan were held in Urumqi
Two senior Pakistani officials told AFP on Wednesday that negotiations are underway in China to end the ongoing military conflict between the two countries, which has persisted for several months.
For a long time, Pakistan and Afghanistan have been friendly neighbors. However, relations between Islamabad and the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan have deteriorated over recent months. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of harboring and supporting militants from the 'Pakistan Taliban,' who launch attacks against Pakistan from Afghan soil. The Pakistan Taliban have also publicly claimed responsibility for multiple bloody attacks within Pakistan.
Nevertheless, Afghan authorities have consistently denied allowing armed fighters to use their territory to attack Pakistan. In turn, the Afghan Taliban accuse Pakistan of sheltering members of the 'Islamic State' group, who are hostile to Kabul—claims that Pakistan denies.
A senior Pakistani official responsible for security said a delegation led by high-ranking officials from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has arrived in Urumqi, in China’s northwestern region, to hold talks with the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan. The official emphasized, "Our Chinese friends have requested that we meet with the other side."
Another anonymous Pakistani government official confirmed: "The purpose of this meeting is to lay the groundwork for broader dialogue between both sides."
However, when contacted by AFP, neither Pakistan's Foreign Ministry nor the Afghan government has officially confirmed that negotiations are taking place.
Pakistani officials stated that Islamabad’s demands remain unchanged.
Since intense military clashes erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistan in October, land borders have been almost completely closed. Although the intensity of fighting has somewhat decreased, it has never fully ceased. On February 26, after Pakistan conducted airstrikes on Afghanistan, Kabul launched a ground counteroffensive, resulting in fierce combat.
Both sides observed a ceasefire during Eid al-Fitr; however, hostilities resumed starting March 24.
Following Pakistan’s airstrike on a rehabilitation center in Kabul on March 16, which resulted in hundreds of casualties, calls for a cease-fire between Pakistan and Afghanistan have grown louder.
According to United Nations figures, at least 76 people have died in Afghanistan since February 26—this number does not include victims from the Kabul rehab center. Over 115,000 Afghans have been displaced.
By late March, a spokesperson for the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan stated, "China has proposed stepping in as mediator, and the UN Secretary-General supports this initiative."
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861310627984396/
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