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April 03, 2026
Kabul Must Demonstrate ‘Visible and Verifiable Actions’: FO
Islamabad: Pakistan is holding talks with Afghanistan to end the current conflict between the two countries, but Kabul must “demonstrate visible and verifiable actions”, said Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi on Thursday.
Since Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan on February 26, diplomatic contact between the two sides had largely ceased.
The talks in the northwestern Chinese city of Urumqi were being held between senior officials of the two countries, the spokesperson said in his weekly press briefing.
The meeting was focused on sharing perspectives on the latest escalation. No major outcomes were expected, though it was believed that China was pushing for confidence-building measures, such as reopening trade routes .
The spokesperson recounted the visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Beijing earlier this week at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, saying that it “provided an opportunity for both sides to hold in-depth discussions on regional issues as well as bilateral matters of global and mutual concerns”.
During his opening remarks, Andrabi mentioned that Afghanistan was one of the issues that came up for discussion between the two foreign ministers. Pressed later for details, he confirmed that Pakistan had sent a delegation to Urumqi for talks.
The spokesperson added that Pakistan had sent the delegation “in line with its consistent position and longstanding practice of supporting a credible process that can lead to [a] durable solution … to stop border terrorism from Afghanistan”.
“Our participation is a reiteration of our core concerns,” he stated. “The burden of real process, however, lies with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate visible and verifiable actions against terrorist groups using Afghan soil against Pakistan.”
Andrabi added that the deputy prime minister’s visit to Beijing, despite medical advice to rest after suffering a hairline fracture during the quadrilateral talks in Islamabad, was evidence of the importance that the country placed on its relationship with China.
Replying to a question about the format of the engagement in China, he said the talks were ongoing. “I believe our delegation has not returned, so once they return, I will have a better picture of how these talks were conducted. For now, I can only tell you that our delegation is there. Pakistan has never shied away from dialogue on this issue, and we remain engaged with China on this issue.” - Dawn
Courtesy Dawn
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