BEIJING (Dispatches) -- China has intensified diplomatic efforts to ease growing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, seeking to bring Islamabad and Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities back to the negotiating table amid continuing concerns over cross-border security.
Beijing’s latest initiative comes as relations between the two neighbors remain strained over militant activity and border clashes. China is seeking to use its growing diplomatic influence in the region to encourage dialogue and establish a more structured mechanism for addressing border security and militant threats.
China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, recently held high-level discussions in Islamabad, according to News18, marking his second visit to Pakistan in five weeks. During the visit, Yue discussed the possibility of convening a second round of China-mediated talks in Urumqi, the capital of China’s Xinjiang region.
Yue held consultations with senior Pakistani officials, including Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Asif Durrani. The discussions focused on reviving diplomatic efforts and preventing further military escalation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Beijing is promoting negotiations as an alternative to unilateral military action, with a potential Urumqi meeting expected to build on earlier discussions and seek concrete commitments on border management and security cooperation.
Counter-terrorism is expected to remain a key issue in any new round of negotiations.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of using Afghan territory to plan and launch attacks against Pakistan. Islamabad has called on the Taliban authorities to take verifiable action against militant groups and prevent Afghan soil from being used for attacks against its neighbor.
The Taliban government has rejected accusations that it allows militants to operate from Afghanistan and has stressed its commitment to preventing threats from Afghan territory.
China has its own security concerns, particularly regarding the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which Beijing regards as a threat. Instability in Afghanistan and along its borders could also put Chinese nationals, infrastructure projects and economic investments in the region at risk.
Any future talks are therefore expected to address intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism cooperation and measures to strengthen border security.
A second meeting in Urumqi could explore practical measures including stronger border monitoring, security guarantees and mechanisms for responding to militant threats.
For China, reducing tensions is also closely tied to protecting regional trade routes and its broader economic and strategic interests. Sustained instability could threaten connectivity projects and undermine Beijing’s efforts to deepen its influence across South and Central Asia.