Situationer: Continuation of ‘Urumqi process’ raises hopes for Pak-Afghan patch-up

After hosting their first meeting in Urumqi, Xinjiang, in April — aimed at bringing an end to the Islamabad-Kabul animosity — Beijing now intends to hold a second meeting to keep the process on track, according to people familiar with discussions. For the better part of the year, conflict between the two neighbours has badly affected trade, transit, cross-border movement of common people, and those living in the border regions. Both sides seem to be inflexible on core issues, such as opening bilateral government channels, trade and movement of people. While the signals from Kabul regarding the ‘Urumqi process’ have been somewhat positive, Pakistani circles have remained tight-lipped until recently – in expectation of some positive impact on the security situation in the country, especially the militancy-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Pakistan officially broke its silence on the issue in the Joint Statement issued on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrapped up his three-day visit to China. “The Pakistani side spoke positively of the successful holding of the informal talks among China, Afghanistan and Pakistan in Urumqi, Xinjiang, China in April 2026, and welcomed the Chinese side to provide a dialogue platform for communication between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” the statement said. Laying groundwork China’s Special Envoy for Afghan Affairs Yue Xiaoyong has already been laying the groundwork for the second meeting, something he discussed during a visit to Kabul earlier this month. “Both sides give positive assessment of the Urumqi process ready (sic) working together for peace, security and common [development],” Ambassador