New Pakistan, Afghan Talks Begin       04/02 06:18

   

   ISLAMABAD (AP) -- Pakistan on Thursday confirmed it was holding peace talks 
with Afghanistan's Taliban government in China, where Beijing is mediating to 
broker a lasting ceasefire after weeks of fighting that have killed hundreds, 
disrupting trade and cross-border travel.

   The confirmation of the new round of talks came a day after officials from 
the two sides told The Associated Press that representatives from the two 
countries had traveled to Urumqi in northern China, where they held the first 
round of talks.

   It remains unclear who is representing Pakistan and Afghanistan in the 
latest negotiations in China.

   In Islamabad, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told a 
news briefing that the talks are ongoing. "Yes, Pakistan has sent a delegation 
to Urumqi, in line with its consistent position and longstanding practice of 
supporting a credible process that can help find a durable solution to 
cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan," he said.

   However, Andrabi said success of the talks largely depends on Kabul.

   "The burden of a real process lies with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate 
visible and verifiable action against terrorist groups using Afghan soil 
against Pakistan," he said.

   Andrabi said Pakistan has never shied away from dialogue on the issue. "We 
remain engaged with the Chinese leadership on this issue and other relevant 
international partners," he said, but maintained that Pakistan is seeking 
written assurances from Kabul that Afghan soil will not be used for attacks 
against Pakistan.

   There was no immediate comment from Kabul.

   Though China has not officially confirmed the talks, the Chinese Foreign 
Ministry on Thursday said Xi Jinping's government has been "actively mediating 
and facilitating the resolution of conflicts between Afghanistan and Pakistan." 
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China has "always supported both 
sides in resolving their differences through dialogue and negotiation."

   Despite the ongoing peace talks, Pakistan's operations against the Pakistani 
Taliban along the border with Afghanistan and other militant groups will 
continue, according to Andrabi.

   On Wednesday, Farid Dehqan, a police spokesperson for the eastern Afghan 
province of Kunar, said Pakistan had fired mortars into Afghan territory late 
Wednesday, killing two civilians and wounding six others, including four 
children. He said the shelling was ongoing two hours after it started.

   Andrabi dismissed the accusation, saying Pakistan conducts operations 
against militants with care to avoid civilian casualties.

   Pakistan often accuses Afghanistan of providing a safe haven to militants 
who carry out attacks inside Pakistan, especially the Pakistani Taliban, known 
as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. The group is separate from but allied with 
the Afghan Taliban, which took over Afghanistan in 2021 following the chaotic 
withdrawal of U.S.-led troops. Kabul denies the charge.

   The fighting between the two sides has been the deadliest since February, 
when Afghanistan's Taliban government said Pakistan launched strikes in Kabul 
and several other areas, causing mostly civilian casualties. Pakistan has said 
it targeted hideouts of TTP.

   Pakistan has also said it is in "open war" with Afghanistan.

   Tensions have been especially high since last month when Afghanistan said a 
Pakistani airstrike at a drug-treatment center in Kabul killed more than 400 
people. The death toll could not be independently confirmed, and Pakistan has 
disputed the claim. It denied targeting civilians, saying it struck an 
ammunition depot in Kabul.

   The latest peace talks in China followed earlier rounds held in Qatar and 
Turkey, during which the two sides agreed to a ceasefire which largely remained 
in place until Pakistan carried out strikes in Kabul and elsewhere in 
Afghanistan in late February, triggering border clashes which have subsided in 
recent days.

   Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have a history of tense relations, but the 
ongoing violence has alarmed the international community, particularly because 
apart from outlawed TTP, other militant groups such as al-Qaida and the Islamic 
State group remain present in the region and have sought to regroup.