Pakistan Reaffirms No Talks With Taliban Despite China’s Mediation Efforts
Informed sources told the Express Tribune that Pakistan, while welcoming China’s diplomatic efforts to ease tensions, emphasized that it currently has no plans to engage in talks or dialogue with the Taliban administration. According to these sources, Islamabad officially conveyed this stance during meetings with Chinese officials.
According to the report, Pakistani officials told their Chinese counterparts that before tensions escalated, all diplomatic options with the Taliban had been tried, but no tangible results were achieved in addressing Pakistan’s security concerns.
China has recently intensified its mediation efforts between Kabul and Islamabad, dispatching its special envoy on Afghanistan affairs to both countries. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has confirmed that this envoy is shuttling between Afghanistan and Pakistan in search of ways to reduce tensions.
However, sources indicated that the talks have led Islamabad to conclude that the Taliban leadership has not changed its position regarding militant groups based in Afghanistan, especially the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to the sources, Taliban officials reiterated in meetings with the Chinese envoy that the issue of the TTP is an “internal matter of Pakistan.” They also claimed that Afghan soil is not used against neighboring countries.
In contrast, Pakistani officials rejected this claim, stating they have multiple pieces of evidence showing the presence and activities of TTP members in Afghanistan. They added that reports from the United Nations Security Council also confirm these concerns.
Pakistan told China that without concrete and practical measures from Kabul to address Islamabad’s security concerns, there will be no real progress in the diplomatic process.
Earlier, Tahir Andarabi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, announced in his weekly press briefing that despite requests from some countries to engage with the Taliban, Islamabad’s current policy will not change. He said the Taliban have refused to provide credible guarantees to curb terrorism from Afghan territory, which is why Pakistan continues with its current approach.
