ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan confirmed on Thursday that talks with Afghanistan were underway under a trilateral mechanism involving China, but made it clear there was no change in its counter-terrorism stance, with Operation Ghazab Lil Haq continuing without interruption.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said in his weekly news briefing that Pakistan’s participation in the Ürümqi talks should not be seen as any change in policy, especially with regard to ongoing security operations.
“There is no significant change to the ongoing Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, which I mentioned last week,” the spokesman said, adding that security forces had also carried out anti-terror operations in recent days. “So I think the operation is ongoing… there is no change in that operation because of any talks.
Andrabi confirmed that a Pakistani delegation is currently in Ürümqi as part of the trilateral anti-terrorism cooperation mechanism, which includes China and Afghanistan. He described Pakistan’s participation as consistent with the country’s longstanding stance of supporting “credible processes” aimed at eliminating militant sanctuaries and curbing cross-border terrorism originating from Afghan soil.
“Our participation is a reiteration of our core concerns,” he said, stressing that meaningful progress depends on Afghanistan’s actions. “The onus for real progress is on Afghanistan to demonstrate visible and verifiable actions against terrorist groups using Afghan soil against Pakistan.”
The spokesman said negotiations are still ongoing and details will become clearer when the delegation returns. “At present, I can only tell you that our delegation is there,” he noted, adding that Pakistan “has never shied away from dialogue” and remains engaged with China on the issue.
He clarified that the Ürümqi engagement was held at a working level involving senior officials. However, he said that he did not have a full overview of the exact composition of the Pakistani delegation.
Responding to a question about reported proliferation by the Afghan Taliban, Andrabi said Pakistan had noted statements indicating intentions from Kabul, but stressed that previous commitments had not been honored. He referred to assurances by the Taliban in the 2021 Doha agreement and said those commitments were not being kept.
“This intention must be supported by concrete, verifiable assurances in written form that their territory would not be used against Pakistan,” he said. “While we acknowledge these statements of intent, we await concrete, verifiable, written assurances.”
Turning to broader regional diplomacy, Andrabi said Pakistan’s recently unveiled five-point peace initiative had received “appreciation from across the region and beyond,” including from the United States.
He noted similarities between the Beijing initiative and the results of consultations held in Islamabad involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, describing them as complementary efforts aimed at ending conflicts and promoting sustainable peace.
Regarding the possible participation of senior US officials in future talks in Islamabad, Andrabi said no details were available and reiterated that Pakistan’s role remains a facilitator. “It is up to the relevant parties to decide the members of their delegations or the timing of these talks,” he said.
He also rejected suggestions that Pakistan was trying to pressure Iran, calling such claims “not a valid observation.” “Iran is a sovereign country… we favor dialogue and diplomacy and our advocacy should not be misconstrued as exerting any pressure,” he said, adding that Islamabad’s engagement with Tehran remains positive.
On speculation about a possible formal alliance emerging from consultations between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, Andrabi called such assumptions premature. He said the discussions were currently focused on strengthening cooperation between the four countries on issues of common interest.
Despite the complex regional environment, the spokesman emphasized Pakistan’s continued commitment to diplomatic engagement. “Although there could be challenges and obstacles, we would continue our pursuit of facilitation and our advocacy of dialogue in all seriousness,” he said.
He dismissed reports that the Iranian delegation was reluctant to come to Pakistan due to security concerns, saying “Islamabad remains safe.”
