ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and Afghan Taliban officials headed to Urumqi in China on Wednesday for a new round of talks brokered by China, sources told media.
The discussions are scheduled for Thursday, with both sides represented by officials from the foreign office as well as defence and security institutions. However, official sources said they remain cautious about any breakthrough.
They added that Pakistan will not move from its core demand of verifiable and decisive action against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist groups being harboured by the Taliban regime.
The development came as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar departed from China after concluding on his one day official visit after meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He travelled after hosting a meeting of foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt as part of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
