MT Desk: Pakistan is holding talks with Afghanistan to end the worst conflict between the South Asian neighbours since ⁠the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed in a weekly media briefing on Thursday. The talks in the ⁠northwestern Chinese city of Urumqi were being held between ⁠senior officials of the two countries, ⁠the spokesperson said. He added that the purpose is to stop terrorism originating from Afghanistan. “Our participation is a reiteration of our core concerns. The burden of real process, however, lies with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate visible and verifiable actions against terrorist groups using Afghan soil against Pakistan.”

To a question about the statement coming out from the telephone conversation between the UAE and Afghan foreign ministers, he said that the intent expressed by the Afghan side has to be backed by concrete, verifiable assurances in written format that their territories would not be used for cross-border terrorism.  Andrabi said that such an intent in a documented form was inked by the Taliban in Doha in 2021 but was not honoured.

He also told the media that Operation Ghazab-Pakistan and China on Tuesday jointly proposed a five-point initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the broader Middle East. The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, urgent diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation, and the restoration of normal maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The briefing also highlighted China’s support. “The Chinese side expressed deep appreciation, conveying that China and Pakistan are strategic cooperative partners,” the spokesperson said. Security of shipping lanes was also a key topic during Dars` visit to China. On this, the FO spokesperson noted that the government of Iran has allowed 20 more Pakistani-flagged ships passage through the Strait of Hormuz, calling the move a "harbinger of peace."

Lil Haq was going on as Pakistan security forces took some action a few days ago as well, and that there was no change in that operation with respect to any talks taking place.

Highlighting other diplomatic activities during the past week, the spokesperson mentioned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s telephone conversations with the Crown Prince of Kuwait, President of Iran Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, and President of the European Council António Costa. Similarly, DPM Dar also held telephone calls with the Foreign Ministers of China, Egypt, Qatar, Indonesia, and Iran and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

During the conversations, the leaders discussed the regional issues as well as bilateral and global matters of mutual concern. Andrabi made a note of Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar`s recent visit to China, from which he returned on Wednesday. The spokesperson mentioned the 5-point peace plan jointly released by the two countries.