ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan confirmed on Thursday that negotiations with Afghanistan were underway under a trilateral mechanism involving China, but made clear that there was no change in its anti-terrorism posture as Operation Ghazab Lil Haq continued uninterrupted.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said during his weekly press briefing that Pakistan’s participation in the ongoing talks in Ürümqi should not be interpreted as a change in policy, especially with regard to ongoing security operations.
“There is no material change in the ongoing Ghazab Lil Haq operation that I mentioned last week,” the spokesperson said, adding that security forces had also carried out counter-terrorism actions in recent days. “So, I believe the operation is ongoing…there is no change in this operation due to negotiations.
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 its long-standing position of supporting “credible processes” aimed at eliminating militant sanctuaries and curbing cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghan soil.
“Our participation is a reiteration of our main concerns,” he said, emphasizing that meaningful progress depends on Afghanistan’s actions. “The responsibility for real progress lies with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate visible and verifiable actions against terrorist groups using Afghan soil against Pakistan.”
The spokesperson said talks were still ongoing and details would become clearer when the delegation returned. “For now, I can only tell you that our delegation is here,” he noted, adding that Pakistan “has never backed away from dialogue” and remains engaged with China on this issue.
He clarified that Ürümqi’s engagement took place at the operational level, involving senior officials. However, he indicated that he did not have complete visibility on the exact composition of the Pakistani delegation.
Responding to a question on the Afghan Taliban’s outreach efforts, Andrabi said Pakistan had taken note of statements indicating Kabul’s intentions, but stressed that past commitments had not been honored. He referred to the assurances given by the Taliban in the 2021 Doha agreement, saying these commitments had not been respected.
“This intention must be supported by concrete and verifiable assurances in written form that their territory will not be used against Pakistan,” he said. “While we acknowledge these declarations of intent, we await concrete and verifiable written assurances.”
On broader regional diplomacy, Andrabi said Pakistan’s recently unveiled five-point peace initiative had received “appreciation from the entire region and beyond”, including from the United States.
He noted similarities between Beijing’s 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 lasting peace.
On the possible participation of senior US officials in future talks in Islamabad, Andrabi said no details were available, reiterating that Pakistan’s role remains that of facilitator. “It is up to the parties concerned to determine the members of their delegations or the timing of these talks,” he said.
He also rejected suggestions that Pakistan was trying to put pressure on Iran, calling the claims “invalid”. “Iran is a sovereign country… we advocate dialogue and diplomacy, and our advocacy should not be interpreted as pressure,” he said, adding that Islamabad’s engagements with Tehran remain positive.
Regarding 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 mutual interest.
Despite the complex regional environment, the spokesperson highlighted Pakistan’s continued commitment to diplomatic engagement. “Even though challenges and obstacles may exist, we will continue our pursuit of facilitation and advocacy for dialogue with the utmost seriousness,” he said.
He dismissed reports that the Iranian delegation was reluctant to come to Pakistan due to security concerns, saying “Islamabad remains safe.”
