DID Press: Pakistan has rejected a recent Chinese proposal to facilitate talks between Islamabad and Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, saying any shift in its policy toward Kabul will depend on receiving concrete and verifiable security guarantees.
Official sources in Pakistan said China had recently attempted to ease tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan by encouraging dialogue between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban.
However, Pakistani officials said the government is not prepared to enter negotiations with the Taliban under current circumstances.
They stressed that Pakistan’s position will remain unchanged unless Kabul provides credible assurances addressing Islamabad’s security concerns.
According to the sources, Pakistan’s main concern is the presence and activity of militant groups operating from Afghan territory, some of which Islamabad says have been involved in attacks inside Pakistan.
Officials added that while Islamabad appreciates Beijing’s diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions, its priority remains countering security threats posed by armed groups in Afghanistan.
The sources said Pakistan has repeatedly conveyed its demands to the Taliban leadership, urging them to prevent Afghan territory from being used by militant groups targeting Pakistan.
They added that any engagement or resumption of formal dialogue with Kabul would only be possible if the Taliban authorities take practical and verifiable steps to curb these groups.
In recent months, China has played an active role in regional diplomacy, seeking to resolve differences between Pakistan and Afghanistan through dialogue. Despite these efforts, Islamabad says its current policy toward Kabul will remain unchanged until tangible progress is made on its security demands.