Islamabad, April 2 Pakistan confirmed on Thursday that it was holding talks with the Taliban government of Afghanistan to end the ongoing conflict, while demanding that Kabul must "demonstrate visible and verifiable actions" against terrorists.
Speaking at a weekly press conference here, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that talks were being held in the Chinese city of Urumqi between senior officials of the two countries.
Andrabi said that the issue of Afghanistan was discussed during Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's visit to Beijing this week, where he met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
When asked about the reported parleys between Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said that Pakistan had sent the delegation "in line with its consistent position and longstanding practice of supporting a credible process that can lead to [a] durable solution … to stop border terrorism from Afghanistan”.
“Our participation is a reiteration of our core concerns,” he said. “However, the burden of a real process lies with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate visible and verifiable actions against terrorist groups using Afghan soil against Pakistan.”
This was the first major contact between the two countries since Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against alleged terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan on February 26.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration to dismantle alleged terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Officials say these appeals have gone unheeded.
Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched on the night of February 26, following what Pakistan called "unprovoked firing" by the Afghan Taliban from across the border.
Speaking about Dar’s visit to Beijing this week, the spokesperson said that it provided an opportunity for both sides to hold in-depth discussions on regional issues as well as bilateral matters of global and mutual concern.
Andrabi said that the five-point initiative proposed by China and Pakistan for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East was the major outcome of the visit, emphasizing that the initiative had been well-received "across the region and beyond”.
“It is an effort towards ending war, it is an effort towards cessation of hostility, and it is an effort towards paving the way for a sustainable pathway towards finding the lasting settlement of the ongoing hostilities,” he said.
He also said that the quadrilateral consultations between the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt provided an opportunity to further strengthen Pakistan’s cooperation and coordination with these countries.
The spokesperson also said that Iran and the US expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate talks aimed at ending the war in the region.
“We would be honoured to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the coming days for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict,” he said.
He said that Pakistan has a very important relationship with the US and remains actively engaged with the US leadership to de-escalate the situation and find a peaceful settlement of this conflict.
Andrabi said that Pakistan had also condemned the attack that was carried out against the Gulf countries by Iran, as well as the attack on Iran. Pakistan's position is anchored on the principles of the UN Charter to promote peace and stability in the region, he added.
He said that Pakistan's efforts would continue despite complications that may arise in the facilitation process.
Responding to a question about a recent statement by the Ministry of External Affairs on Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's reported remarks asking Shias to "go to Iran", he rejected India's remarks as "cynical and diversionary".