Officials say the decision was taken because Kabul has not changed its stance on the presence of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups operating from Afghan territory. The response effectively means Islamabad has declined Beijing’s recent diplomatic effort to reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
China recently increased its diplomatic activity by sending its special envoy on Afghanistan to both Kabul and Islamabad. The move was part of Beijing’s attempt to calm rising tensions between the two neighboring countries. According to China’s Foreign Ministry, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also spoke with Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi by phone to discuss the situation.
Chinese officials said their special envoy is currently travelling between Afghanistan and Pakistan to help reduce tensions. In an official statement, China expressed hope that both countries would remain calm, avoid escalation, and start face-to-face talks soon. Beijing also suggested an early ceasefire and encouraged both sides to resolve their differences through dialogue.
China said it is ready to continue playing a role in helping Pakistan and Afghanistan improve relations. However, sources familiar with the discussions said Pakistan thanked China for its sincere efforts but made it clear that talks with Kabul cannot resume without real changes on the ground.
According to the sources, Pakistan told Chinese officials that it had already tried several diplomatic channels before adopting its current policy toward the Taliban government. Islamabad had raised its concerns through direct talks with Kabul and through friendly countries. The main issue, Pakistani officials say, is the presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan fighters and other militant groups inside Afghanistan.
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Officials said that during meetings with the Chinese envoy, the Taliban leadership repeated its earlier position that the TTP problem is Pakistan’s “internal issue.”
Taliban authorities also claimed that Afghan territory is not being used for attacks against neighbouring countries. Pakistani officials rejected this claim and pointed to evidence, including reports by the United Nations Security Council.
According to them, these reports support Pakistan’s concerns about the presence and activities of TTP militants inside Afghanistan. Under these circumstances, Pakistan told Beijing that meaningful diplomatic progress would only be possible if Kabul took practical steps to address these concerns.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi also confirmed that Pakistan will continue its current policy toward Afghanistan. Speaking during his weekly briefing, he said Pakistan needs clear and verifiable assurances that Afghan territory will not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.
“As regards the situation in Afghanistan, the situation remains the same,” Andrabi said.
“We have emphatically communicated to Afghanistan and to our interlocutors that we need verifiable assurances from the Afghan side that their territory would not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.” He added that since such assurances have not been received, Pakistan will maintain its existing policy toward Afghanistan. Despite the ongoing tensions, some officials believe there could still be a temporary pause in hostilities during the Eid period.
