Kabul Sends Five-Member Delegation to China Talks With Pakistan

A five-member Taliban delegation joined talks with Pakistan in China as border clashes entered their fifth week and pressure grew for renewed dialogue and de-escalation.

A five-member Taliban delegation has taken part in talks with Pakistani officials in China, as both sides attempt to manage a worsening border conflict that has now entered its fifth week. Taliban-linked media said the delegation included officials from the foreign, interior, defense and intelligence institutions, reflecting the security-heavy nature of the discussions.

According to reports, the Taliban team included representatives from the foreign ministry, interior ministry, defense ministry and the intelligence directorate, signaling that the talks were not merely symbolic but tied directly to military and border tensions. Pakistani officials, however, told local media that the Urumqi meeting was not expected to produce an immediate ceasefire, and that major differences remain unresolved.

The meeting comes as fighting between the Taliban and Pakistan continues across parts of eastern Afghanistan, especially in Kunar, where recent shelling reportedly killed and wounded civilians, including children. The broader escalation began after Pakistan launched military operations in late February, accusing the Taliban of harboring militants behind attacks inside Pakistan, a claim Taliban has repeatedly denied.

The United Nations has meanwhile warned of a growing civilian toll and worsening humanitarian strain as shelling, airstrikes and border closures disrupt daily life. UN reporting from the first phase of the escalation documented significant civilian casualties inside Afghanistan, including women and children, while aid access and local services in border districts were also affected.

China has increasingly stepped in as a diplomatic channel between Islamabad and Kabul, urging both sides to resolve disputes through talks rather than force. Beijing has publicly called for restraint, face-to-face engagement and a ceasefire, and the latest Urumqi meeting appears to be part of that broader effort to prevent the conflict from spiraling further.

Efforts to lower tensions have so far produced only limited results. Similar contacts in recent months, along with informal peace efforts such as the joint peace jirga in Peshawar, have highlighted support for dialogue, but have not yet created a durable framework capable of stopping repeated cross-border fire and political mistrust.

The China meeting marks an important diplomatic opening, but it also underscores how fragile the current situation remains. With fighting still ongoing and both sides far apart on core security demands, the path to de-escalation appears uncertain despite renewed engagement.

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