Afghanistan and Pakistan sat down for negotiations mediated by China
According to information from the Associated Press, representatives of Pakistan and Afghanistan have begun peace talks mediated by China. The first round of talks took place in the Chinese city of Urumqi and concluded on the afternoon of April 1, with the next stage expected to continue on Thursday.
Illustrative photo. Photo: AP Photo/Saqib Manzoor
China has not officially commented on these negotiations, but previously urged both countries to resume dialogue. The talks are being held with delegations from both sides. The Afghan group included representatives from various government bodies: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior, and intelligence services.
Despite the talks, the situation between the countries remains tense. The Afghan side continues to accuse Pakistan of shelling its territory with mortars. In turn, Pakistan claims that Afghanistan harbors armed groups, including Pakistani Taliban, who carry out attacks on Pakistani territory. The Afghan authorities deny these accusations.
The situation escalated after serious clashes between the two countries began in February — the most intense in decades. Pakistan even declared the start of an "open war," leading to armed conflicts on the border and airstrikes on Afghan territory, including strikes on Kabul.
The Afghan side claims that one such strike hit a drug treatment center in Kabul, resulting in a large number of casualties. However, these figures could not be independently verified. Pakistan, in turn, denies these accusations and states that the target was an ammunition depot.
Both sides had previously agreed to a temporary ceasefire for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, but hostilities resumed thereafter.
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