Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday confirmed it sent a delegation to China to hold talks with the Afghan government, following weeks of border clashes between the two neighbors. Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi stated that Islamabad dispatched a delegation to Urumqi in northwestern China for discussions with the Afghan side, as reported by local broadcaster Geo News.

According to Anadolu Agency, senior government officials are representing the Pakistani side in these discussions, as confirmed by Andrabi in a briefing to reporters in Islamabad. The broadcaster highlighted that the diplomatic talks in Urumqi have been initiated at a junior level, marking a significant step toward resolving ongoing tensions.

The meeting in Urumqi follows a prior engagement in Beijing, where Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Meanwhile, Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi announced that a "mid-level" Afghan delegation has arrived in China for official talks with Pakistan, facilitated by the Chinese government at China's request.

China has expressed its commitment to mediating the situation, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stating that China will continue to play a constructive role in de-escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. China, being a neighbor to both countries, supports resolving disputes through dialogue.

The recent border clashes began in late February, following Pakistan's airstrikes inside Afghanistan. These actions were in response to a series of deadly attacks across Pakistan by militants loyal to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with Islamabad accusing Kabul of providing sanctuary to these militants. Kabul has denied these allegations.

Officials from both countries have reported casualties among civilians, soldiers, and militants on both sides of the border. A temporary ceasefire was agreed upon on March 18, ahead of the Eid al-Fitr festival, after requests from Trkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.