Pakistan Reviewing Results of Urmchi Talks with Taliban

A spokesperson for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that all diplomatic and political channels for peace with the Taliban remain open.

Tahir Andarabi said during a Thursday press conference that Islamabad is reviewing the results of the Urmchi talks held in China. Andarabi added that security is the primary concern for Pakistan in its interactions with Afghanistan and that Islamabad is seeking written and verifiable guarantees from the Taliban that Afghan soil will not be used against Pakistan.

The Urmchi talks were conducted in a trilateral format over the course of one week with low-level delegations meeting behind closed doors. They have concluded without specific achievements and Pakistan's Afghanistan desk is now following up on the matter.

Andarabi noted that Pakistan bases its approach to Afghanistan on the commitments from the Doha agreement and international laws, with an emphasis on protecting security forces, law enforcement and civilians in border areas.

The talks followed around one month of military clashes and Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan provinces such as Kabul, Kandahar, Balkh, Panjshir, Parwan, Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar and Laghman. Four prior rounds of talks in Doha, Istanbul and Riyadh ended without results. China's mediation between the Taliban and Pakistan has not produced tangible results so far amid ongoing distrust. China's special representative called the Urmchi talks informal and noted an initial understanding to continue consultations.