Lead

Pakistan said Thursday (April 2, 2026) that the burden of ending its cross-border conflict lay with Afghanistan, as the two sides held preliminary talks to try to end hostilities. The neighbours and one-time allies have been locked in an escalating conflict over claims from Islamabad that Afghanistan is harbouring militants responsible for cross-border attacks, which the Taliban government denies.

Coverage comparison

Coverage of the developing situation varies by outlet. Deutsche Welle emphasized Pakistan's active military operations, describing the situation as an "open war" declared by Islamabad's defense minister in late February, followed by a bombing campaign. The Hindu, in contrast, focused on the diplomatic track, reporting the announcement of negotiations in Urumqi, northwest China, and the involvement of China as a mediator. Both outlets reported the core accusation and denial cycle, though with different narrative weights.

Key claims

  • Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the government hoped for a "durable solution" and that "the burden of real process, however, lies with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate visible and verifiable actions against terrorist groups using (its) soil against Pakistan."
  • Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar travelled to Beijing for talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, as reported by The Hindu. The talks in Urumqi were announced Wednesday (April 1, 2026).
  • Beijing deployed a special envoy last month to try to broker a deal, according to The Hindu. That diplomatic effort was followed by Pakistani strikes on a Kabul rehab centre that prompted international condemnation. The Hindu reported that more than 400 people were killed in that attack, while the request for talks came from China.
  • The Taliban government said it sent a "mid-level delegation" to Urumqi and intends to hold "comprehensive and responsible talks" on good neighbourliness, trade, and security management, as stated by Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi.
  • Deutsche Welle reported that the fighting started in the fall of 2025, with Pakistani forces bombing border regions in Afghanistan and targeting Kabul. A "Pakistan-Afghanistan Peace Jirga" convened on March 31 in Peshawar, Pakistan, issued a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, though its practical effect remains unclear.
  • Reports have emerged of a Pakistani security zone stretching up to 32 kilometers inside Afghan territory, according to Deutsche Welle. These reports, which cite artillery fire, drone strikes, and blocked roads in eastern Afghan provinces, have not been independently verified.

Perspectives

  • Pakistan's position: Islamabad maintains that Afghanistan must act against militant groups like the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it blames for attacks on Pakistani soil. Pakistani officials frame their actions as defensive and necessary, and argue that the resolution of the conflict depends on Afghan action.
  • Afghanistan's position: The Taliban government denies providing support to the TTP or other groups targeting Pakistan. Afghan officials have called for dialogue based on "good neighbourliness" and have expressed willingness to engage in talks, while also facing international condemnation over the Kabul rehab centre strike.
  • China's role: Beijing has positioned itself as a broker in the dispute, deploying a special envoy and hosting preliminary talks. China's involvement reflects its strategic interests in regional stability, though the outcome of its mediation remains uncertain.
  • International observers: Analysts quoted by Deutsche Welle note the deep historical and ethnic complexities of the border region, including the legacy of the Durand Line, and caution that the current peace jirga and negotiations may amount to political signaling unless backed by concrete actions from both sides.