Taliban Official: Non-Interference-Based Engagement Key to Resolving Challenges with Pakistan
The Taliban administration has announced that a mid-level delegation has traveled to the city of Urumqi, China, to hold talks with Pakistani officials. These negotiations are set to be mediated by the Chinese government and will focus on security issues, trade relations, and managing existing tensions between the two sides.
Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement on Thursday that the meeting is being held at China’s request and that the dispatched delegation will participate based on “mutual respect and constructive engagement.” According to him, the Taliban representatives intend to discuss good neighborliness, expanding trade relations, and effective management of security matters with their Pakistani counterparts.
Balkhi added that the Taliban administration believes diplomatic engagement based on non-interference and mutual understanding can provide practical solutions to current challenges and create a foundation for further regional cooperation. This comes amid rising tensions in recent months between the two sides over insecurity and border incidents.
Simultaneously, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson also announced the dispatch of a delegation composed of senior officials to Urumqi. He stated that the purpose of the visit is to explore a “sustainable solution” to what Pakistan describes as the “ending of cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan.”
Pakistan has repeatedly claimed that some armed attacks in its territory are organized from Afghan soil, a charge the Taliban administration has consistently denied. Nevertheless, the continuation of such accusations and the lack of a transparent mechanism to address security concerns remain significant challenges in bilateral relations. The outcome of these talks is expected to play a decisive role in reducing tensions.
